Former FBI Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office Charles F. McGonigal, 54, pleaded guilty Friday to concealing material facts for his undisclosed receipt of $225,000 in cash from a person with business interests in Europe while McGonigal was supervising counterintelligence operations.
U.S. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly set the sentencing for Feb. 16.
According to documents submitted to the court, McGonigal hid from the FBI the nature of his relationship with a former foreign security officer and businessperson who had ongoing business interests in foreign countries and before foreign governments beginning in August 2017 and continuing through his retirement from the FBI in September 2018.
Specifically, McGonigal flew abroad with the person and met with foreign nationals while receiving at least $225,000 in cash from the person.
Later, the person cooperated with the FBI as a source in an investigation into illegal foreign political lobbying for which McGonigal held formal managerial responsibility.
If convicted, McGonigal faces up to five years in prison.
The FBI Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Stuart D. Allen, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Friedman for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.