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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Prosecutors say a former U.S. intelligence officer charged with trying to sell secrets to China told investigators that an FBI informant started a conversation about U.S. military information.
Prosecutors say in court documents filed Wednesday that 58-year-old Ron Rockwell Hansen of Syracuse briefly spoke with FBI agents after his arrest, but stopped talking after being confronted about whether he was telling the truth about who started the conversation.
Hansen was arrested in June after allegedly meeting with and discussing selling U.S. military plans to Chinese intelligence. Authorities say he was paid $800,000 over several years for passing U.S. technology and information to China.
Hansen has pleaded not guilty to 15 counts, including espionage, smuggling and financial charges.
Hansen's attorney Robert Hunt did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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