SPY GAMES

Former Defense Intelligence Officer Accused of Spying for China

The officer was arrested for allegedly attempting to transmit national defense secrets to China.

Former Defense Intelligence Agency officer Ron Rockwell Hansen was arrested Saturday for allegedly attempting to send national defense information to China, according to a Monday announcement from the Department of Justice. The 15-count complaint accuses Hansen of “attempting to gather or deliver national defense information to aid a foreign government,” as well as “acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China” and smuggling cash and goods. “Ron Rockwell Hansen is a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer who allegedly attempted to transmit national defense information to the People's Republic of China's intelligence service (PRCIS) and also allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars while illegally acting as an agent of China,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers.  “His alleged actions are a betrayal of our nation's security and the American people and are an affront to his former intelligence community colleagues.” Hansen will appear Monday evening before the U.S. District Court in Seattle.