Dancing with the Devil

In 1986, newspapers across America called it "the espionage case of the century." While serving as a security guard at the American Embassy, Sgt. Clayton Lonetree, a Native American marine, fell in love with a beautiful Russian woman. Then, a KGB officer posing as the woman' s "Uncle Sasha" recruited Lonetree to become a spy for the Soviet Union. The "sex-for-secrets Marine spy scandal"— as it was called by the press— had all the elements of a great novel. As the investigation proceeded, more marines were implicated, but after a witch-hunt that ruined many reputations and careers, only Lonetree was brought to trial. In this account, journalist Rodney Barker reveals information he obtained from KGB officers— as well as U.S. military and intelligence personnel— which raises questions about whether justice was served in Lonetree's trial.