Jeffrey Carney
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Carney is a former U.S. Air Force
intelligence specialist convicted of spying for East Germany. One of the Stasi
's most successful spies, code-named "The Kid", Carney handed over U.S. military documents while working in West Berlin
for the Air Force. Carney was apprehended, possibly in violation of international law, by agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) in April, 1991 in the Friedrichshain
district of Berlin on charges of desertion after the fall of the Berlin Wall
.
in Berlin
as a linguist and intelligence specialist, with duty station at the 6912th Marienfelde
Field Site. The 6912 ESG worked for the National Security Agency
and eavesdropped on communications of Eastern Bloc
countries.
in Texas where he worked as a language instructor. Unfortunately for Carney, Goodfellow AFB was a training base only, with no real-world intelligence of any interest to the Stasi. In 1985, facing the loss of both the money and prestige spying had afforded him, he deserted the Air Force and defected to East Germany. There he continued to aid the government by intercepting and translating official telephone communications of US military commanders and embassy officials in Berlin.
in Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas.
Carney was released in 2002, after serving 11 years, seven months, and twenty days on a twenty-year sentence in accordance with his pretrial agreement.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
intelligence specialist convicted of spying for East Germany. One of the Stasi
Stasi
The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
's most successful spies, code-named "The Kid", Carney handed over U.S. military documents while working in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
for the Air Force. Carney was apprehended, possibly in violation of international law, by agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) in April, 1991 in the Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain is a part of Berlin's borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and like Kreuzberg across the river it has its own distinct character, with the result that the new double name is hardly ever used outside government administration. From its creation in 1920 until Berlin's 2001...
district of Berlin on charges of desertion after the fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
.
Biography
Carney entered the Air Force in December 1980. From April 1982 to April 1984 he was assigned to the 6912th Electronic Security Group, Electronic Security Command at Tempelhof Central AirportTempelhof Central Airport
Tempelhof Central Airport was a United States Military airfield in West Berlin, Germany between 1945 and 1994.During its operational life, it was garrisoned by the United States Air Force, with units of the United States Army Berlin Brigade located within the facility...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
as a linguist and intelligence specialist, with duty station at the 6912th Marienfelde
Marienfelde
Marienfelde is a locality in southwest Berlin. It is a mixed industrial and residential area, and part of the borough of Tempelhof-Schöneberg.-Transportation and industry:...
Field Site. The 6912 ESG worked for the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
and eavesdropped on communications of Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
countries.
Alienation
Carney, a homosexual, had apparently become disillusioned with the Air Force, and there are several stories of him attempting to turn in his badge and quit. He later claimed to have been lonely, alienated, and under psychological stress, and he felt he had no one to talk to about his problems. He had intended to defect to East Germany on his first crossing, but he allowed himself to be drawn into espionage by East German agents who expertly manipulated him and claimed his complete loyalty.Spying
While working at the Marienfelde Field Site in Berlin, Carney began copying classified documents which he then provided to the East German Ministry for State Security (Stasi) by repeatedly crossing back and forth into East Berlin. In 1984 he was transferred to Goodfellow Air Force BaseGoodfellow Air Force Base
Goodfellow Air Force Base is a non-flying United States Air Force base located in San Angelo, Texas. As part of Air Education & Training Command , Goodfellow's main mission is cryptologic and intelligence training for the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Military firefighters are also...
in Texas where he worked as a language instructor. Unfortunately for Carney, Goodfellow AFB was a training base only, with no real-world intelligence of any interest to the Stasi. In 1985, facing the loss of both the money and prestige spying had afforded him, he deserted the Air Force and defected to East Germany. There he continued to aid the government by intercepting and translating official telephone communications of US military commanders and embassy officials in Berlin.
Lifestyle and recognition
One of these East German agents was assigned to be Carney's handler. During the course of his spying, Carney provided the Stasi with more than a hundred top-secret U.S. military documents. For his services to East Germany, he was awarded the NVA service medal in bronze and the medal of "Waffenbrüderschaft" in gold.Arrest
The break in the case came after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, when many Stasi records became available to foreign investigators. In April 1991 he was apprehended by AFOSI agents at his residence in what used to be in the Soviet sector of Berlin.Conviction
After being extensively debriefed, Carney pleaded guilty to charges of espionage, conspiracy, and desertion and was sentenced in December 1991 to 38 years in prison. Carney served his sentence at the United States Disciplinary BarracksUnited States Disciplinary Barracks
The United States Disciplinary Barracks is a military prison located on Fort Leavenworth, a United States Army post in Kansas....
in Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas.
Carney was released in 2002, after serving 11 years, seven months, and twenty days on a twenty-year sentence in accordance with his pretrial agreement.