In a significant legal development, Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, a 71-year-old from Honolulu, was sentenced today for his role in a conspiracy to relay national defense secrets to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Ma, a former CIA officer, was found guilty of aiding Chinese intelligence efforts, marking a serious breach of national security.

Background and Arrest

Ma’s involvement came to light in August 2020 when he confessed to an undercover FBI agent about his activities.

He admitted to passing classified information to the Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB), a key intelligence agency in China.

Ma’s CIA career spanned from 1982 to 1989, and he had a close relative, referred to as co-conspirator #1 (CC #1), who worked for the CIA from 1967 to 1983.

Both men had Top Secret security clearances and signed nondisclosure agreements during their service.

Conspiracy Details

According to the plea agreement, in March 2001, well after leaving the CIA, Ma facilitated a meeting between CC #1 and SSSB officers in Hong Kong.

Over three days, CC #1 provided a substantial amount of classified U.S. defense information to the SSSB in exchange for $50,000.

Ma and CC #1 agreed to continue their cooperation with the SSSB.

FBI Investigation and Role

In March 2003, while residing in Hawaii, Ma sought a position as a contract linguist with the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office.

The FBI, aware of Ma’s connections to Chinese intelligence, hired him as part of an operation to monitor his activities.

Ma worked part-time for the FBI from August 2004 to October 2012.

In February 2006, Ma was directed by the SSSB to ask CC #1 to identify certain individuals from photographs.

CC #1 provided the identities of two people, which were classified national defense information.

Sentencing and Cooperation

Ma confessed to knowingly conspiring with CC #1 and the SSSB to transmit information that could harm the United States and benefit the PRC.

The court highlighted that Ma’s actions represented a severe breach of national security, requiring extensive investigation and resources.

Under the plea agreement, Ma will cooperate with U.S. authorities for the rest of his life, including participating in debriefings.

At today’s sentencing, it was noted that Ma has been cooperative and engaged in multiple interviews with government agents.

Ma has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

The case was announced by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells.

The FBI’s Honolulu and Los Angeles Field Offices conducted the investigation, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Sorenson and Craig Nolan, along with Trial Attorneys Scott Claffee and Leslie Esbrook from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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