South courtyard of the Harry S. Truman Building in Washington, D.C., headquarters of the United States Department of State, where Cuban spy Kendall Myers worked. Photo from Highsmith (Carol M.) Archive, Library of Congress.
In 2009, the FBI arrested Walter Kendall Myers, a former State Department analyst, and his wife, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, for spying for Cuba over a span of 30 years. This arrest marked the culmination of a meticulous investigation which began after the arrest of another Cuban spy, Ana Belén Montes. Despite Montes’ capture, the leaks of classified information continued, prompting the FBI to dig deeper into the network of Cuban spies operating within the U.S. government.
Kendall Myers: An Unlikely Suspect
The case of Kendall Myers and his wife, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, is quite fascinating. Kendall Myers, the great-grandson of the famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell, was an unlikely suspect. From 2000 until his retirement in October 2007, Kendall Myers served as a European analyst within the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). Throughout his tenure, Myers primarily held domestic roles within the State Department.
With a top-secret clearance, Myers had access to highly sensitive information. During his tenure, he accessed over 200 classified intelligence reports concerning Cuba. His wife, Gwendolyn, was equally involved in their espionage activities. The couple, known to their Cuban handlers as “Agent 202” and “Agent 123,” even had a secret meeting with Fidel Castro in 1995, underscoring their significance in the Cuban intelligence network.
The Investigation
The FBI’s investigation into Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers was a meticulous and thorough operation that spanned nearly 30 years. The investigation began independently of the arrest of Ana Belén Montes, a senior analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency, who was also spying for Cuba. Despite Montes’ capture, classified information continued to leak, indicating the presence of another mole within the U.S. government. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office in conjunction with the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.
The FBI applied a combination of traditional investigative techniques and advanced counterintelligence methods to identify Kendall Myers as a potential mole. This included monitoring communications, analyzing travel patterns, and scrutinizing financial records. The FBI also relied on human intelligence sources and information provided by defectors from Cuban intelligence.
A key figure in cracking the case was Robert Booth, a retired U.S. State Department counterintelligence expert. Booth’s expertise and keen eye for detail were instrumental in identifying Myers as a suspect. After reviewing personnel files and analyzing Myers’ access to classified information, Booth concluded that Myers was likely the source of the leaks.
The FBI’s investigation revealed that the Myerses had been spying for Cuba for nearly three decades. They used various methods to communicate with their Cuban handlers, including shortwave radio transmissions, encrypted emails, and face-to-face meetings in third countries. The couple also employed tradecraft techniques, such as dead drops and brush passes, to exchange information and receive instructions.
The FBI’s surveillance of the Myerses was extensive. Agents monitored their movements, intercepted their communications, and even conducted covert searches of their home. This surveillance provided critical evidence of their espionage activities, including the copying of classified documents and the use of coded language in their communications.
The Arrest & Sentencing
The arrest of Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers in 2009 was the culmination of years of painstaking work by the FBI. Their capture not only disrupted a significant Cuban espionage operation but also highlighted the importance of robust security measures and constant vigilance against insider threats. The arrest led to a comprehensive review of security procedures at the State Department. It highlighted the vulnerabilities within the U.S. government’s security protocols and underscored the need for constant vigilance against insider threats.
On July 16, 2010, Kendall Myers was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His wife, Gwendolyn Myers, received a sentence of 81 months in prison. Kendall Myers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit espionage and other charges, and he agreed to serve a life prison sentence. Kendall Myers is currently serving his sentence at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri. Gwendolyn Myers served her time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, before being released.
Final Thoughts
The case of Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges of counterintelligence work. The FBI’s successful investigation and arrest of the Myerses not only disrupted a significant Cuban espionage operation but also reinforced the importance of robust security measures within government agencies. The legacy of the Myerses’ betrayal continues to influence counterintelligence efforts and serves as a cautionary tale for those entrusted with safeguarding national security.
Resource
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI.gov