Robert Philip Hanssen, who received payments of $1.4 million in cash and diamonds for the information he gave the Soviet Union and Russia has died, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced Monday.
Hanssen had been in custody at Colorado’s USP Florence ADMAX since July 17, 2002.
“On Monday, June 5, 2023, at approximately 6:55 am, inmate Robert Hanssen was found unresponsive at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Florence ADMAX in Florence, Colorado,” a release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.
“Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested emergency medical services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued.”
“Mr. Hanssen was subsequently pronounced deceased by EMS personnel,” the release said.
In 2001, Hanssen pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage and conspiracy in exchange for the government not seeking the death penalty.
Investigators accused him of compromising dozens of Soviet personnel who were working for the United States, some of whom were executed.
He shared details of several US technical operations such as eavesdropping, surveillance, and interception of communications.
And he gave the Soviets the US plans of how it would react to a Soviet nuclear attack, both in protecting top government officials and retaliating against such an attack.
“I apologize for my behavior,” he said in court during his sentencing in 2002.
“I am shamed by it.
Beyond its illegality, I have torn the trust of so many.
Worse, I have opened the door for Calumny against my totally innocent wife and our children.
I hurt them deeply. I have hurt so many deeply.”
Personal
Birth date: April 18, 1944
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Birth name: Robert Philip Hanssen
Father: Howard Hanssen, police officer
Mother: Vivian Hanssen
Marriage: Bernadette “Bonnie” (Wauck) Hanssen (August 10, 1968-present)
Education: Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, A.B. in Chemistry, 1966; Attended Northwestern University Dental School, 1966-1968; Northwestern University, M.B.A. in Accounting and Information Systems, 1971
Other Facts
Hanssen received payments of $1.4 million in cash and diamonds from the information he gave the Soviet Union and Russia.
At least two movies have been made about Hanssen.
A TV movie called “Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story” was released in 2002. A feature film called “Breach” was released in 2007.
Timeline
1972 – Joins the Chicago Police Department.
January 12, 1976 – Joins the FBI as a special agent.
1979 – Begins spying for the Soviet Union.
1980 – Begins working for the counterintelligence unit, focusing on the Soviet Union.
1981 – Is assigned to the Intelligence Division at FBI headquarters in DC.
1981 – Hanssen’s wife catches him with classified documents and convinces him to stop spying.
October 4, 1985 – Resumes spying.
1991 – Breaks off relations with the KGB.
1999 – Resumes spying, this time for the Russian Intelligence Agency.
2000 – The FBI identifies Hanssen from a fingerprint and from a tape recording supplied by a disgruntled Russian intelligence operative.
The FBI also obtains the complete original KGB dossier on Hanssen.
December 2000 – The FBI begins surveillance of Hanssen.
January 12, 2001 – Hanssen is reassigned from counterintelligence to an obscure office at FBI headquarters.
February 18, 2001- is arrested in a Virginia park after making a drop of classified documents.
Agents find a bag nearby containing $50,000 that they believe is Hanssen’s payment for the documents.
May 16, 2001 – Is indicted on 21 counts of spying for the Soviet Union/Russia and passing top secret material to the Soviet Union/Russia.
May 31, 2001 – Pleads not guilty to all charges.
July 6, 2001 – pleads guilty to 15 counts of espionage and conspiracy in exchange for the government not seeking the death penalty.
May 10, 2002- is sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.
By Agencies