ALEXANDRIA, June 24: Former FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agent Earl Pitts was sentenced yesterday to 27 years in prison for spying for Moscow.Prosecutors had requested nearly 24 1/2 years. But US district judge TS Ellis told Pitts his crimes were especially severe and said Pitts has yet to fully apologise. Pitts acknowledged spying for the Russians before and after fall of the Soviet Union.

When Pitts finished reading his brief statement, Ellis asked him, ``Why did you do it?''Pitts delivered a rambling reply. Looking hard at Pitts, the judge said his explanations did not go far enough.``You have much more reflection to do. You didn't make a single reference to the money you took or your lack or regard for your country and the principles for which it stands,'' Judge Ellis said.Pitts was snared in a 16-month FBI sting that ended with his arrest in December.

He had been charged with accepting more than $ 224,000 from Moscow for US secrets while he worked as a spy from 1987 to 1992. He had been stationed in Moscow.Prosecutors asked for 24 1/2 years, the maximum under federal sentencing guidelines. Judge Ellis chose to go outside those guidelines to sentence Pitts to an additional 2 1/2 year.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.