FBI Agent Les Wiser captures Russian spy
#OnThisDay in 1994, FBI Agent Leslie G. “Les” Wiser, Jr. and his team arrested Aldrich Ames, a 31-year veteran of the CIA who was spying for the Russians. It was President’s Day, February 21, 1994, and Special Agent Les Wiser was managing what has become one of the most significant cases to be cracked in FBI history - code named NIGHTMOVER - an investigation that led to uncovering a mole known to be operating within the CIA. The search for the mole initially began in 1986 but ended in 1988 without enough evidence. In 1991, the CIA came to the FBI to join forces and the FBI case on Ames officially opened in May 1993. Wiser was assigned to the case by Assistant FBI Director Robert M. "Bear" Bryant who later called Ames the most damaging spy in U.S. history.
The torn yellow adhesive note seen here is said to be the clue that cracked the case, the first usable piece of evidence found in a secret, late-night search of trash that confirmed that Ames was the Russian spy. For his work in the espionage investigation leading to the capture of Ames, Wiser received the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement from the Director of Central Intelligence.
The torn yellow adhesive note provided key evidence on Ames. "North" refers to a signal site and "pipe" is a drop site. The "B" was Bogota.
Aldrich Hazen Ames was arrested by the FBI in Arlington, Virginia on espionage charges on February 21, 1994.
The true story about Wiser, a Trafford High graduate (Class of 1972), and his role in capturing Ames has been told by author Bryan Denson in his book, “FBI Files: Catching a Russian Spy: Agent Leslie G. Wiser Jr. and the Case of Aldrich Ames.”
#OnThisDate #OTD #OTDIH #FBIcase #FBIHistory #TraffordHistory #LocalHero #NationalHero #Classof1972 #TraffordPA
