Honolulu man will serve 10 years for espionage involving China

(The Center Square) - A former CIA officer will spend 10 years in a federal prison for his role in providing classified information to the People's Republic of China, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 71, of Honolulu, is accused of working with a relative who also previously worked for the CIA from 1967 until 1983. Ma, a CIA officer from 1982 to 1989, was asked by the Shanghai State Security Bureau in March 2001 to arrange a meeting with Ma's relative, according to a DOJ news release. The relative, identified by the DOJ as co-conspirator #1, or CC#1, is deceased.

Ma and CC#1 met with the Shanghai security officials in Hong Kong. CC#1 provided classified U.S. national defense information and received $50,000.

In 2003, Ma began working with the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office. as a contract linguist. The FBI monitored Ma's activities while he worked with the office from August 2004 until October 2012, according to the DOJ.

Ma asked CC#1 to identify four individuals to the Shanghai State Security Bureau. Two names that are classified were provided, the DOJ said.

The plea deal requires Ma to cooperate with government officials for the rest of his life, including debriefings. The government said Ma cooperated with agents.

In addition to the 10-year prison term, Ma will serve five years on supervised release.