The Garbage Collector

Why such a hurry? That is what FBI agents wondered when a Soviet official whom they suspected of being an intelligence agent sought permission on short notice to travel from Washington to New York. Once the permission had been granted, FBI agents followed him to see what he was up to. On a smoggy Saturday evening, July 21, he walked into the lobby of a public building in Queens and paced anxiously back and forth. Two agents kept watch.

Just before 6 p.m., a man in a business suit strode briskly into the lobby and headed for a telephone booth. The Russian went into the adjoining booth. The American dialed a number; the Russian answered a ring. After a brief conversation, both men hung up and casually walked out of the building several paces apart. About a block away, they came closer together, finally met and started talking. At that point, the agents closed in and arrested both of them.

The still unnamed Russian claimed diplomatic immunity and was turned over to the Soviet consulate; the American, who refused to say anything, was searched. In his pocket were found keys to a rented car. The agents tracked down the car, opened the trunk, and discovered a plastic garbage bag filled with secret documents dealing with Air

Force counterintelligence procedures plus military data that the U.S. had learned about Russia.

The suspect turned out to be an Air Force technical sergeant who had compiled a flawless record during 18 years in the military. Three years ago, he had asked for an assignment in the Office of Special Investigations and was sent to Travis Air Force Base near San Francisco. His superiors thought highly of his work. He was about to be assigned to the Middle East.

Until the investigation is completed --he is now confined on preliminary charges of violations of the Espionage Act at the McGuire Air Force Base stockade at Wrightstown, N.J.--Pentagon officials cannot be sure of his motive. They speculate that he got involved for money, making contact with a Soviet consul during his tour at Travis and offering to sell what he knew. His wife and children apparently had no inkling of his off-duty activities. While he was meeting the Soviet agent in Queens, they were resting in a motel after a long day's sightseeing in Manhattan.

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