Eric O'Neill

Eric M. O'Neill (born 1973) is a former American FBI operative. He worked as an Investigative Specialist, of the Special Surveillance Group (SSG), and played a role in the arrest and life imprisonment conviction of FBI agent Robert Hanssen for spying on behalf of the Soviet Union and Russia.

O'Neill graduated from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. in 1991, [Gonzaga College High School, [http://www.alumni.gonzaga.org/s/130/index.aspx "Alumnus Is Subject of Spy Thriller"] , Retrieved February 21, 2007.] and earned dual degrees in political science and psychology from Auburn University in 1995. [David Morrison and Mike Clardy, Auburn University, [http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/news_releases/breach.html "AU Alum’s Role in Capturing Spy Inspires Motion Picture “Breach”"] , February 13, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2007.]

O'Neill was assigned to work as Hanssen's assistant: His true role, kept secret from Hanssen, was part of the effort to learn as much as possible about which secret information Hanssen had revealed, and to ensure his successful capture and prosecution. Ultimately, investigators made a dramatic move to obtain a "smoking gun". When others briefly disrupted Hanssen's routine and confidence, maneuvering him into relaxing his rigid control of his portable electronic memo-book, O'Neill, under intense time pressure, secretly had its encrypted contents copied and returned it apparently undetected, despite forgetting which pocket of Hanssen's briefcase he had taken it from. O'Neill speculates that, had Hanssen detected the disturbance of his device, he would have realized that all his hope of continued freedom was lost and that Hanssen might have shot O'Neill dead on the spot.Fresh Air with Terry Gross, [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7094972 Eric O'Neill and Billy Ray Discuss 'Breach'] , January 31, 2007.]

Hanssen was arrested on February 18, 2001, at Foxstone Park near his home in Vienna, Virginia, charged with selling American secrets to Moscow for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds over a 22-year period. O'Neill's acting had apparently deceived Hanssen, as part of the dead drop contained an evaluation of O'Neill's possibly replacing Hanssen as a mole when he retired. On July 6, 2001, Hanssen pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage. [http://cryptome.org/usa-v-rph-gp.htm "Transcript of Hanssen Guilty Plea"] , July 6, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2007.] [United States Department of Justice, [http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2001/July/308ag.htm "Thompson Statement Regarding Hanssen Guilty Plea"] , July 6, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2007.] He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. His treason has been described as "possibly the worst intelligence disaster in US history". [U.S. Department of Justice, [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/websterreport.html "A Review of FBI Security Programs"] , March 2002]

Following his FBI years, O'Neill earned a J.D. with Honors from The George Washington University Law School in 2003. He is admitted to the bars in Maryland and District of Columbia and is an associate at the law firm DLA Piper. [http://www.dlapiper.com/global/people/detail.aspx?attorney=4bdc2d9b-8a7a-4af1-8ecf-3aa99e9f17fc Retrieved 2007-02-22]

In the movie "Breach", a movie based on the story of O'Neill and Hanssen, the part of O'Neill is played by Ryan Phillippe.

References

External links

* [http://ericoneill.net Eric O'Neill's Official Site]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7133600 NPR audio interview with O'Neill and Billy Ray]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7094972 Eric O'Neill and Billy Ray Discuss 'Breach']
* [http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=123776 ABC 20/20 Report on Eric O'Neill] , Dec. 27, 2002
* [http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/01/acd.00.html CNN, Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees] , October 1, 2003
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vk60jb8yMk Ryan Phillippe discusses working with Eric O'Neill on the Breach Movie Set]
* [http://movies.about.com/od/breach/a/breach020207.htm About.com interview with O'Neill and Billy Ray (director)]
* [http://www.dlapiper.com/global/people/detail.aspx?attorney=4bdc2d9b-8a7a-4af1-8ecf-3aa99e9f17fc Eric O'Neill's legal profile at DLA Piper]