his career with the CIA, this country entrusted Harold "Jim" Nicholson
with some of its most sensitive secrets," said Arthur Balizan, Special
Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. "Not once - but twice - he
betrayed his oath, our nation and his family.
United
States Attorney Dwight C. Holton announced today that Harold James
Nicholson, 59, appeared before U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown and
plead guilty to the crimes of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign
government and conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Nicholson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of
$250,000 and 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000, respectively.
The
plea agreement states both parties will ask the Court at sentencing to
impose an eight year prison sentence to be served consecutive to the
sentence the defendant is currently serving. That's because Nicholson
committed the second offense of spying while in prison in Sheridan,
Oregon.
Harold
J. Nicholson, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee, is
serving a 23 1/2 year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution for
a 1997 conviction of conspiracy to commit espionage. He was able to escape a death sentence by cooperating with authorities the first time. He has now admitted to
not only spying again but involving his son Nathaniel to pass on
information to the Russian Federation for which his son was paid and additional funds promised to the family. He did this from 2006 to December 2008, while serving time for
the first offense.
J. Nicholson, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee, is
serving a 23 1/2 year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution for
a 1997 conviction of conspiracy to commit espionage. He was able to escape a death sentence by cooperating with authorities the first time. He has now admitted to
not only spying again but involving his son Nathaniel to pass on
information to the Russian Federation for which his son was paid and additional funds promised to the family. He did this from 2006 to December 2008, while serving time for
the first offense.
Nathaniel
traveled across many parts of the world to meet with the Russian
Federation and to receive money for providing them with U.S.secrets.
traveled across many parts of the world to meet with the Russian
Federation and to receive money for providing them with U.S.secrets.
“Harold
Nicholson has admitted not only betraying his country, but also
betraying his family by involving his son Nathaniel in his corrupt
scheme to get more money for his past espionage activities. We applaud
the outstanding work of the FBI on this criminal investigation and the
extraordinary cooperation of the Bureau of Prisons, said”U.S. Attorney for Oregon, Dwight C. Holton stated,
Nicholson has admitted not only betraying his country, but also
betraying his family by involving his son Nathaniel in his corrupt
scheme to get more money for his past espionage activities. We applaud
the outstanding work of the FBI on this criminal investigation and the
extraordinary cooperation of the Bureau of Prisons, said”U.S. Attorney for Oregon, Dwight C. Holton stated,
"Harold
Nicholson, one of the highest-ranking CIA officials ever convicted of
espionage, dispatched his son around the globe to collect on past
espionage debts from Russian agents. Today, he admitted using this
scheme to continue to profit from his spying activities while in prison.
The many agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked on this matter
deserve our thanks," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for
National Security.
Nicholson, one of the highest-ranking CIA officials ever convicted of
espionage, dispatched his son around the globe to collect on past
espionage debts from Russian agents. Today, he admitted using this
scheme to continue to profit from his spying activities while in prison.
The many agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked on this matter
deserve our thanks," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for
National Security.
Nathaniel was convicted in 2009 for his part in the espionage committed, using his father's influence and contacts, on behalf of his father who planned to retire in Russia when he was released from prison.
Sean Joyce, Executive
Assistant Director FBI National Security Division reminded the public of the severity of Nicholson's crimes, ."When
he was hired by the CIA, Harold Nicholson took an oath to protect our
nation's security. He violated this oath,” said, “The FBI will
relentlessly pursue those who breach the trust our country places in
them."
Assistant Director FBI National Security Division reminded the public of the severity of Nicholson's crimes, ."When
he was hired by the CIA, Harold Nicholson took an oath to protect our
nation's security. He violated this oath,” said, “The FBI will
relentlessly pursue those who breach the trust our country places in
them."
. Unfortunately, this is a legacy he and his children will live with from now on.”
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