Edwin P. Wilson
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Edwin P. Wilson | |
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Birth name | Edwin Paul Wilson |
Born | Seattle, Washington, U.S. | May 3, 1928
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1953–1956 |
Battles/wars | Korean War |
Other work | (1971–1976) |
Edwin Paul Wilson (May 3, 1928 – September 10, 2012)[1] was a former CIA and Office of Naval Intelligence officer who was convicted in 1983 of illegally selling weapons to Libya. It was later found that the United States Department of Justice had relied on a false affidavit when prosecuting Wilson; as a result, Wilson's convictions were overturned in 2003 and he was freed the following year.[2]
Early life
Edwin P. Wilson was born to a poor farming family in
CIA career
Wilson's first assignments were for the Office of Security; this included a stint in 1956 guarding U-2 spy planes in Turkey. In 1960, the Agency sent him to
"Wilson was on the CIA's payroll, and doing the agency's bidding, all the time he was employed by one of the largest labor unions in the United States as its international representative in Europe. He served as an advance man for
Hubert H. Humphrey in the 1964 campaign, thus playing an active role in partisan politics, while still working for the CIA."[8]
However, Wilson's most valuable time for the CIA was in Special Operations Division (SOD) setting up
ONI career
In 1971, with the CIA's knowledge and approval, Wilson moved to the Office of Naval Intelligence, where he worked full-time for a secret intelligence unit called the Naval Field Operations Support Group (NFOSG) or Task Force 157. Between its inception in 1966 and its termination in 1977, the focus was on acquiring intelligence on Soviet naval activity. However, the unit's remit was wider and later described as “the U.S. military's only network of undercover agents and spies operating abroad using commercial and business 'cover' for their espionage."[9][10] At this time, Wilson set up another front company—World Marine, Inc.—to assist with his logistics work. Wilson then retired from the ONI in 1976 after events that have been disputed. After a change in commanders, Wilson reportedly appealed to Admiral Bobby Inman, the Director of Naval Intelligence, offering his influence in Congress to the ONI's budget troubles if he, Wilson, could be made chief of Task Force 157. Allegedly outraged, Inman shut down Task Force 157 altogether and reported Wilson to the FBI.[5] However, other calculations may have been in play.[10]
Wilson continued to run the businesses he had built under the guidance of the CIA, the largest of which was Consultants International. He reportedly amassed a fortune of over $20 million through these businesses, and continued to offer covert shipping services at the request of the CIA after his official retirement.[11][7]
Arms for Libya controversy
In the 1970s, he became involved in dealings with Libya. Wilson claimed that a high-ranking CIA official
The most dramatic deal, and the one that brought Wilson to the attention of the U.S. government, was for some twenty tons of military-grade
Another scandal broke out around Wilson when a company he had formed to ship United States military aid to Egypt was convicted of overcharging the United States Department of Defense by $8 million.
Investigation and conviction
After a lengthy investigation by the
He was put on trial four separate times.[18] Before he stood trial, several prosecution witnesses died under suspicious circumstances, including Cuban exile Rafael Villaverde, who disappeared in a boating accident near the Bahamas after an explosion on his boat, and former CIA agent Kevin P. Mulcahy, who had worked for Wilson and blown the whistle to the government.[19][20][21][22] Wilson's friend Ricardo Morales, a longtime nemesis of Villaverde in the Cuban exile community, would die in a bar fight in December 1983.[23]
Wilson was found not guilty of trying to hire a group of
Legal defense
External videos | |
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"The Edwin Wilson Case: The Conviction and Reversal". Interview with David Adler on Reasonable Doubt, with Robert Fickman. Houston MediaSource. |
Wilson's defense to the Libyan charges was that he was working at the behest of the CIA. The CIA gave the DOJ an affidavit stating that, after his retirement, he had not been employed directly or indirectly by the agency. The CIA later informed the DOJ that it should not use the affidavit at trial, but the prosecutor Ted Greenberg decided to use it anyway.
While in prison, Wilson campaigned vigorously for his innocence and repeatedly filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the government. Eventually, he found information linked to the memo and hired a new lawyer. His lawyer was David Adler, a former CIA officer who had clearance to view classified documents. Adler spent long hours poring through thousands of files and eventually found 80 incidents where Wilson met on a professional basis with the CIA and proof that the CIA had indirectly used Wilson after his retirement.[6]
In October 2003, by U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes, overturning his conviction on the explosives charge, found that U.S. Justice Department prosecutors knew Wilson had worked for the CIA.[25] Wilson was released from prison on September 14, 2004, after being incarcerated for 22 years. Over 12 of those years were in solitary confinement.
Civil action
Wilson filed a civil suit against seven former federal prosecutors, two of whom are now federal judges, and a past executive director of the CIA.
Later life
After his 2004 release from prison, Wilson moved north of Seattle to live with his brother.[27]
On 10 September 2012, Wilson died of complications from heart valve replacement surgery, survived by his sons Karl and Erik,[28] sister Leora Pinkston and girlfriend Cate Callahan.[25][29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]
Further reading
- ISBN 0743452682.
- Goulden, Joseph C. (1985). The death merchant : the rise and fall of Edwin P. Wilson. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 978-0283992131.
- Missouri State Historical Society
References
- ^ Martin, Douglas (September 22, 2012). "Edwin P. Wilson CIA Operative Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ Hughes, Lynn (October 27, 2003). "United States of America vs. Edwin Paul Wilson, United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Criminal Case H-82-139, Opinion on Conviction in Ancillary Civil Action H- 97-831" (PDF). fas.org. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ a b c Carlson, Peter (June 22, 2004). "International Man of Mystery". Washington Post. p. C01. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
- ^ Trippett, Frank (June 15, 1987). "The Spectator in Solitary". Time. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c Powers, Thomas (April 27, 1986). "Easy Money at the CIA". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Obituary: Edwin P. Wilson". The Economist. Vol. 404, no. 8804. September 29, 2012. p. 98.
- ^ a b Childs, Martin (October 8, 2012). "Edwin Wilson: CIA officer who made millions from spying". The Independent. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ "Edwin Wilson Has Ace in the Hole: Testimony". WASHINGTON POST. June 28, 1982.
via CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)
- ^ Hughes, Lynn (October 27, 2003). "United States of America vs. Edwin Paul Wilson, Criminal Case H-82-139, United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Opinion on Conviction in Ancillary Civil Action H- 97-831" (PDF). fas.org. p. 2. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ a b Richelson, Jeffrey (2001). "The Pentagon's Spies, Documents Detail Histories of Once Secret Spy Units, National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 46". National Security Archive. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ Hughes, Lynn (October 27, 2003). "United States of America vs. Edwin Paul Wilson, United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Criminal Case H-82-139, Opinion on Conviction in Ancillary Civil Action H- 97-831" (PDF). fas.org. p. 17. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-06-056410-0.
- ^ "Edwin Wilson". Telegraph. September 28, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ Gordon, Michael (February 25, 1987). "Libya's A-Bomb Effort Cited". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ Keith Plocek (May 3, 2007). "Spy Stories". houstonpress. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
In particular, Barcella, the former Assistant U.S. Attorney who tracked down Wilson and put him behind bars, pondered the 40,000 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive that Wilson, well schooled by the agency in intrigue and arms dealing, sold to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in 1977
- ^ ISBN 978-0-395-45185-4.
- ^ Eric Margolis (November 10, 2003). "Edwin Wilson: America's Man in the Iron Mask". ericmargolis. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
- ^
- "Former CIA agent denies Green Berets train Libyan terrorists". United Press International.
- "Pa. man key witness in CIA-Libyan case, report says". United Press International.
- "The CIA said Monday it 'categorically denies' allegations that..." United Press International.
- "Tafoya claims he worked for CIA under Edwin Wilson". United Press International.
- "A former aide to ex-CIA agent Edwin Wilson has..." United Press International.
- "A former employee of fugitive ex-CIA agent Edwin Wilson..." United Press International.
- "A federal judge, heeding warnings that Edwin Wilson might..." United Press International.
- "Lawyers for renegade CIA agent Edwin Wilson have filed..." United Press International.
- "The first trial of ex-CIA agent Edwin Wilson, accused..." United Press International.
- "CIA renegade Edwin Wilson went on trial Monday, with..." United Press International.
- "Medical Examiner: No foul play in federal witness death". United Press International.
- "A former employee of ex-CIA agent Edwin Wilson testified..." United Press International.
- "UPI NEWS AT A GLANCE". United Press International.
- "Former CIA agent Edwin Wilson and his son, Erik,..." United Press International.
- "In a story carried by UPI Wednesday, the Justice..." United Press International.
- "Edwin Wilson, the former CIA agent twice convicted of..." United Press International.
- "CIA agent or con man?". United Press International.
- "A convicted swindler who lured CIA agent Edwin Wilson..." United Press International.
- "Edwin Wilson, an ex-CIA agent serving time for arms..." United Press International.
- "Man Of International Intrigue Disappears". Associated Press.
- "Ex-CIA Officer Appeals Conviction". Associated Press.
- "Former CIA Employee Says He Worked for Secord, Arranged North Security". Associated Press.
- "TODAY'S TOPIC: Man of Intrigue Disappears". Associated Press.
- "Conference in Santa Fe offers glimpse inside America's covert history". Associated Press. October 14, 2018.
- "Judge Talked of Government Link in Civil Lawsuit of Ex-CIA Agent Clines". Associated Press.
- "Ex-CIA Agent Said Working for Cuban Intelligence". Associated Press.
- "Ex-CIA Agent Seeks to Sue Secord, Egyptian President, Others With AM-US-Iran-Contra Rdp". Associated Press.
- ^ "Medical Examiner: No foul play in federal witness death - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ a b "Ex-CIA man Edwin Wilson, jailed for selling arms to Libya, dies". Reuters. September 23, 2012.
- ^ JOHNSON, TRACY (October 23, 2006). "Former CIA spy branded a traitor wants to clear his name". seattlepi.com.
- ^ "Edwin P. Wilson, former CIA spy, dies at 84". The World. PRX. September 22, 2012.
- ^ "Former CIA agent Edwin Wilson and his son, Erik,..." UPI.
- ^ "Edwin Wilson: CIA officer who made millions from spying". The Independent. October 7, 2012.
- ^ Martin, Douglas (September 22, 2012). "Edwin P. Wilson, disgraced ex-CIA operative, dies at 84". The Seattle Times.
- ^ Langer, Emily; Weil, Martin (September 23, 2012). "Edwin P. Wilson dies; former CIA operative and arms dealer was 84". Washington Post.
- ^ Martin, Douglas (September 22, 2012). "Edwin P. Wilson, the Spy Who Lived It Up, Dies at 84". The New York Times.
- ^ "Former CIA operative Edwin Wilson dies at 84". The Spokesman-Revie.
- ^ "Edwin Wilson". National Registry of Exonerations.
- ^ "Edwin Wilson dies at 84; former CIA operative". Los Angeles Times. September 23, 2012.
- ^ "American Arms Dealer Who Sold To Libya Has Died". NPR.org.
- ^ "Edwin P. Wilson". The Economist.
- ^ "Edwin Wilson, CIA". edward jay epstein.