Southern District of New York | Former Government Official Arrested For Acting As Unregistered Agent Of South Korean Government

Damian Williams, america Legal professional for the Southern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, the Appearing Assistant Director in Cost of the New York Discipline Workplace of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), introduced the unsealing of an Indictment yesterday charging SUE MI TERRY with offenses underneath the International Brokers Registration Act (“FARA”).  TERRY was arrested on July 16, 2024, in New York, New York, and offered earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Robert W. Lehrburger.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Choose Lorna G. Schofield.

U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams mentioned: “As alleged, Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA and White Home worker, subverted international agent registration legal guidelines as a way to present South Korean intelligence officers with entry, info, and advocacy.  Terry allegedly offered out her positions and affect to the South Korean authorities in return for luxurious purses, costly meals, and hundreds of {dollars} of funding for her public coverage program.  The costs introduced ought to ship a transparent message to these in public coverage who could also be tempted to promote their experience to a international authorities to suppose twice and guarantee you’re in accordance with the legislation.”

FBI Appearing Assistant Director in Cost Christie M. Curtis mentioned: “Compromising nationwide safety endangers each American by weakening our defenses and placing lives in danger.  Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA and White Home official, was arrested for allegedly performing as an unregistered agent for South Korea.  For over a decade, regardless of repeated warnings, Terry allegedly exploited her suppose tank roles to advance a international agenda.  As alleged, she disclosed delicate U.S. authorities info to South Korean intelligence and used her place to affect U.S. coverage in favor of South Korea… for cash and luxurious presents.  Her alleged actions posed a extreme risk to nationwide safety.  This arrest sends a transparent message: the FBI will pursue and arrest anybody who endangers our nation’s safety by collaborating with international spies.”

As alleged within the Indictment:[1] 

After leaving U.S. authorities service and for greater than a decade, TERRY labored as an agent of the federal government of the Republic of Korea (“ROK”), generally often called South Korea, with out registering as a international agent with the Legal professional Common, as required by legislation.  As covertly directed by ROK authorities officers, TERRY publicly advocated ROK coverage positions, disclosed personal U.S. authorities info to ROK intelligence officers, and enabled ROK officers to achieve entry to U.S. authorities officers.  In return for these actions, ROK intelligence officers supplied TERRY with luxurious items, costly dinners, and greater than $37,000 in funding for a public coverage program specializing in Korean affairs that TERRY managed. 

From in or about 2001 to in or about 2011, TERRY served in a sequence of positions within the U.S. authorities, together with as an analyst on East Asian points for the Central Intelligence Company, because the Director for Korea, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs for the White Home Nationwide Safety Council, and because the Deputy Nationwide Intelligence Officer for East Asia on the Nationwide Intelligence Council.  Since leaving authorities service in or about 2011, TERRY has labored at tutorial establishments and suppose tanks in New York Metropolis and Washington, D.C.  TERRY has made media appearances, revealed articles, and hosted conferences as a coverage skilled specializing in, amongst different issues, South Korea, North Korea, and varied regional points impacting Asia.  TERRY has additionally testified earlier than Congress on a minimum of three events relating to the U.S. authorities’s coverage towards Korea. 

Since leaving U.S. authorities service, TERRY served as a invaluable supply of knowledge for the ROK Nationwide Intelligence Service (“ROK NIS”), the ROK’s major intelligence company.  For instance, in or about June 2022, TERRY participated in a non-public, off-the-record group assembly with the U.S. Secretary of State relating to the U.S. authorities’s coverage towards North Korea.  Instantly after the assembly, TERRY’s major ROK NIS level of contact, or “handler,” picked up TERRY in a automobile bearing ROK Embassy diplomatic license plates.  Whereas within the automobile, TERRY supplied her handler detailed handwritten notes of her assembly with the U.S. Secretary of State.  TERRY’s handler photographed the notes whereas sitting within the automobile with TERRY. 

Weeks later, on the request of her ROK NIS handler, TERRY hosted a cheerful hour for Congressional employees.  Though the pleased hour was underneath the auspices of the suppose tank the place TERRY labored, the ROK NIS paid for it with TERRY’s data.  TERRY’s handler attended the occasion and posed as a diplomat, mingling with Congressional employees with out disclosing that he was, the truth is, an ROK intelligence officer. 

The ROK authorities rewarded TERRY for her companies.  For instance, TERRY’s ROK NIS handlers gifted her a $2,950 Bottega Veneta purse and a $3,450 Louis Vuitton purse, each of which TERRY chosen throughout procuring journeys together with her handlers.  Certainly one of TERRY’s ROK NIS handlers additionally gifted her a $2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat.  

Along with luxurious items, TERRY’s ROK NIS handlers supplied her with costly meals, together with at Michelin-starred eating places.  TERRY’s ROK NIS handlers additionally deposited roughly $37,000 into an unrestricted “reward” account that TERRY managed on the suppose tank the place she labored.  As well as, ROK authorities officers paid TERRY to write down articles in each the U.S. and Korean press conveying positions and phrases supplied by the ROK authorities. 

*                *                *

TERRY, 54, of New York, New York, has been charged with one rely of conspiracy to violate FARA, which carries a most sentence of 5 years in jail, and one rely of failure to register underneath FARA, which carries a most sentence of 5 years in jail.

The utmost potential sentences on this case are prescribed by Congress and are supplied right here for informational functions solely, as any sentencing of the defendant might be decided by a decide.

Mr. Williams praised the excellent investigative work of the Counterintelligence Division of the FBI’s New York Discipline Workplace.  Mr. Williams additionally thanked the Counterintelligence Division and International Affect Job Drive of FBI Headquarters, the Mission Companies and Counterintelligence Divisions of the FBI’s Washington Discipline Workplace, the Amtrak Police Division, and the Division of Justice’s Nationwide Safety Division for his or her help. 

This case is being dealt with by the Workplace’s Nationwide Safety and Worldwide Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Alexander Li, and Kyle A. Wirshba are in command of the prosecution, with help from Trial Legal professional Christopher M. Rigali of the Nationwide Safety Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Management Part.

The costs contained within the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible.