The former head of FBI counterintelligence in New York, Charles McGonigal, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for accepting secret payments from a sanctioned Russian oligarch and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The former intelligence agent, a key player in the Bureau's investigation into Donald Trump's alleged "Russian collusion," must also pay a $40,000 fine and forfeit $17,500. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Former Special Agent in Charge of the New York FBI Counterintelligence Division sentenced to 50 months in prison for conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on Russiahttps://t.co/9jVaKypnAg
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) December 14, 2023
McGonigal pleaded guilty in August
Last August, McGonigal pleaded guilty in New York to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The former agent admitted to working with Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska to investigate a rival oligarch and to money laundering to conceal the origin of the money received as payment for his services. The Department of Justice released a statement saying, " FBI agents from the same division McGonigal used to lead foiled his scheme after only a few months of operation."
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams spoke out strongly after learning of the ruling, saying that the McGonigal "violated the trust the country placed in him" and that he endangered national security once he left the agency.
Charles McGonigal violated the trust his country placed in him by using his high-level position at the FBI to prepare for his future in business. Once he left public service, he jeopardized our national security by providing services to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian tycoon who acts as Vladimir Putin’s agent. Today’s sentence is a reminder that anyone who violates United States sanctions — particularly those in whom this country has placed its trust — will pay a heavy penalty.
Awaiting sentencing in the second case in Washington
In addition, McGonigal pleaded guilty last September to a second case in Washington. This time, the former agent admitted that he concealed $225,000 in cash payments from a former Albanian intelligence employee in exchange for his services while still working for the FBI. He also admitted that he misled his managers at the agency by not accurately disclosing his travel and contacts with foreign agents. He could face a maximum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.
During his time as head of the Cybercrime Section at FBI headquarters in Washington, McGonigal was one of the first agency officials to become aware that 2016 Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos bragged about knowing that the Russians had information to smear then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's name. This information was key to the Bureau launching Operation Crossfire Hurricane to investigate whether the former president's team worked "wittingly or unwittingly" with Russia to interfere in that year's presidential election. The work of special prosecutor Robert Mueller ended up concluding that there was no evidence that Trump and his entourage worked criminally with Moscow to influence the electoral outcome.
