Former FBI counterintelligence head, Charles McGonigal, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring with sanctioned Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska. McGonigal, who expressed deep remorse, initially faced charges of money laundering and violating US sanctions, which could have resulted in a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. However, under the terms of his plea deal, his maximum sentence is now five years.
McGonigal, aged 55, was arrested in January at JFK airport upon returning from a business trip abroad. Federal prosecutors charged him with illegally working for Deripaska, who was placed on the sanctions list due to his alleged interference with the 2016 US presidential election and threats to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Upon retiring from the FBI in 2018, McGonigal allegedly met with Deripaska in Vienna and London and arranged for a monthly retainer of $175,000 to a New York law firm, with $25,000 allocated for himself. The purpose of the law firm was to assist Deripaska in removing the imposed sanctions. In 2021, McGonigal reportedly took a job from Deripaska to investigate rival tycoon Vladimir Potanin and worked alongside Sergey Shestakov, a former Soviet and Russian diplomat serving as a court interpreter.
According to the New York Times, citing sources familiar with the case, the FBI determined that McGonigal did not share any classified information with foreign adversaries. The investigation concluded that his misconduct was limited to corruption.
During his 22-year tenure with the FBI, McGonigal played significant roles in high-profile cases such as the TWA Flight 800 investigation and the 2010 investigation into the WikiLeaks publication of State Department cables. For his outstanding performance, then-FBI Director James Comey appointed him as head of the New York Field Office counterintelligence division in October 2016.
Furthermore, McGonigal was involved in the FBI’s infamous ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ investigation into alleged collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, commonly known as Russiagate. A message attributed to him expressed concern that the FISA warrant to surveil Trump through campaign aide Carter Page would create major controversy if made public.
In addition to the charges related to Deripaska, McGonigal also faces separate charges in another federal court. Prosecutors accuse him of accepting $225,000 in bribes from Albania as part of an oil exploration scheme. Allegedly, he received payments from a former employee of Albanian intelligence who was working for a Chinese conglomerate since 2017. While initially pleading not guilty, McGonigal is currently negotiating terms for these additional charges as well.
The case involving McGonigal highlights the potential risks associated with individuals in high-ranking law enforcement positions who abuse their power and engage in corrupt practices. As investigations reveal further details, it will be interesting to see how these cases develop and whether they will have any wider implications for national security and international relations.
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