NSA analyst jailed for life for selling US secrets to Soviets dies aged 80

Ronald Pelton, convicted of espionage in 1986, said he accepted money from America's cold war enemy because he was desperate

A former National Security Agency analyst who was arguably its most damaging traitor and became famous for aiding the Soviets during the cold war died last week, according to an obituary posted on the website of a Maryland funeral home.

Ronald William Pelton was 80.