How the FBI took down Russian spies living in the U.S. and posing as Americans.
Go inside one of the FBI's most important counterintelligence investigations to track Russian operatives living in America and seeking critical secrets in "The FBI Declassified: The Spies Next Door," airing Tuesday, October 13 at 10/9c on CBS.
In 2000, FBI agents in New York were leading an unprecedented investigation into a network of Russian intelligence agents living in the United States carrying out long-term, deep-cover assignments. "These were Russian intelligence officers, trained, living amongst Americans, posing as Americans who were getting access like Americans," explained FBI Supervisor Alan Kohler. They blended in so seamlessly that children, friends, colleagues and even next-door neighbors had no idea they were Russian spies.
Behind the suburban veneer, the spies were well trained operatives. At headquarters in Moscow, they had been given new, false identities and made-up backstories, referred to as their "legend." They also received extensive training about American culture. According to Kohler, they'll "watch American movies and watch American television. Their instructors are likely people who've spent time in the United States."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian...ghost-stories/
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FBI agents recorded several exchanges where the Russians passed large amounts of cash to each other in public places.
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"Richard and Cynthia Murphy are both fabricated people," said FBI Special Agent Todd Shelton.
The spies lived in New Jersey with two daughter born in the U.S. Their assignments
were to blend in with Americans.