Sting operation fooled Montaperto into admitting his crimes

Ronald Montaperto "did not reveal or admit the passing of secrets until fooled into making admissions in a 2003 sting operation while he worked at the US Pacific Command think tank in Hawaii," Gertz reports.

That revelation from federal investigators clashes with Montaperto's defense that he cooperated voluntarily.

"US intelligence officials have said Montaperto was first investigated in the late 1980s after a Chinese defector said Beijing considered him one of their 'dear friends,' or informal supporters of China."