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Honolulu man admitted to aiding Chinese intelligence for decades
To commit a case that highlights the long arm of espionage reaching from America’s shores to the People’s Republic of China, a former CIA officer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 71, of Honolulu, was convicted of conspiring to deliver classified U.S. defense information to China’s Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB), according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) statement. The sentencing concludes a high-stakes case that revealed a betrayal spanning years.
U.S. Spy Spied Back On: How Ma Became the Target
Once tasked with guarding America’s most sensitive secrets, Ma found himself on the other side of the fence in 2001 when he was contacted by Chinese intelligence. Ma, who had served in the CIA from 1982 until 1989, quickly became an asset to the SSSB, betraying his country and handing over classified U.S. defense information. However, Ma’s spycraft hit a significant snag when the FBI turned the tables on him.
Starting in 2003, Ma unknowingly began working for the FBI as a part-time contract linguist, in a clever ruse by U.S. intelligence. His job, though seemingly innocent, was a covert setup designed to monitor and ultimately entrap him. The FBI had long been aware of Ma’s suspicious ties to Chinese intelligence. Ma’s covert collaboration with China, which involved recruiting his own family member, a deceased co-conspirator referred to as “CC #1,” was unraveled through the undercover operation.
From Cash to Classified: Espionage in a Hong Kong Hotel Room
The espionage conspiracy between Ma and CC #1 officially began in March 2001, over a decade after Ma had left the CIA. SSSB agents arranged a meeting with the two in a Hong Kong hotel room. For three days, Ma and his relative provided a staggering amount of sensitive information in exchange for $50,000 in cash. The conspiracy continued for years, with Ma leveraging his prior experience at the CIA to aid Chinese intelligence.
In 2006, Ma further advanced the scheme when the SSSB tasked him with identifying individuals of interest from photographs. He successfully convinced CC #1 to provide the identities of at least two individuals, despite the fact that this information was classified U.S. national defense data.
The Price of Betrayal: Years of Cooperation and Sentencing
Ma’s betrayal was thorough, but so was the government’s pursuit of justice. After his arrest in August 2020, Ma admitted to his crimes, detailing his role in the long-standing conspiracy. As part of his plea agreement, he has pledged lifelong cooperation with U.S. authorities, a condition that will include routine debriefings.
Despite Ma’s apparent cooperation with U.S. authorities in recent years, the government underscored the gravity of his offense during his sentencing hearing. Ma’s years-long conspiracy, facilitated by his unique access to classified information, was deemed a severe breach of national security. The resources required to investigate his espionage only magnified the damage done.
Closing a Chapter in a Case of Espionage
Ma’s sentence was handed down in a Honolulu court, where he was condemned to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. While Ma has agreed to cooperate with U.S. intelligence agencies, his conviction is a stern reminder of the national security risks posed by espionage. The FBI’s Honolulu and Los Angeles Field Offices spearheaded the investigation, with prosecuting efforts from the DOJ’s National Security Division and the District of Hawaii.
As Ma begins his decade-long prison sentence, the U.S. remains vigilant, with national security officials continuing to guard against threats—both foreign and domestic—posed by espionage.
