外媒：冷战时期的美国中情局“最凶残叛徒”死于狱中，曾多次破坏美方情报活动

Core Viewpoint - Aldrich Ames, a former CIA officer known as the "most notorious traitor," died in prison after being convicted for espionage during the Cold War, where he provided intelligence to the Soviet Union in exchange for money, significantly undermining U.S. intelligence operations against the USSR [1][4]. Group 1: Background and Career - Ames was born in 1941 and was the son of a CIA agent, which led him to join a CIA internship program for children of agents during high school and later being hired by the CIA after college [3]. - He quickly rose through the ranks and became the head of counterintelligence for the Soviet division in 1983, showcasing strong work capabilities [3]. Group 2: Espionage Activities - Ames struggled with severe alcoholism and had a history of losing important intelligence, which contributed to his decision to sell secrets to the KGB for financial gain [4]. - In 1985, he provided what he believed to be "worthless" information to the KGB for $50,000, which led him to escalate his betrayal, ultimately receiving $2.5 million for selling out over ten U.S. agents, resulting in their execution by the Soviets [4]. - His actions not only compromised U.S. intelligence but also led to the dissemination of false information to mislead American operatives [4]. Group 3: Capture and Aftermath - Ames's lavish lifestyle raised suspicions from the FBI, leading to his exposure and arrest in 1994, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment [4]. - A notable incident during the investigation involved a KGB defector, Yurchenko, who misled U.S. authorities by suggesting another agent was responsible for the leaks, potentially to protect Ames [5].