Date

Event

7 July 2001

Michael Ray Aquino, former deputy director of the Philippine National Police, enters the United States on a tourist visa.

July 2004

After 21 years in the Marines, Aragoncillo is hired by the FBI as an intelligence analyst in the Fort Monmouth Information Technology Center in New Jersey. He is granted "top secret" clearance and allowed to use the FBI's Automated Case Support computer system.

September 2004

Aragoncillo begins improperly accessing classified FBI documents about the Philippines, according to the FBI.

2 January 2005

Aquino allegedly sends e-mail to Filipino Sen. Panfilo Lacson telling him that Aragoncillo "wants to talk to you and give you some updates on the political situation in the country." Aquino signs his message, "Ninoy."

18 January 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly sends e-mail to Lacson that contains 10 classified documents. "Please read the attached information for your personal consumption. As previously requested, protect the source," writes Aragoncillo. Lacson replies quickly, "I find all the information that you are sending me very useful. I hope you will continue sending more."

24 February 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly sends e-mail to Lacson containing a document with information from six classified "secret" documents.

3 March 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly sends e-mail to Lacson with a document marked "sensitive but unclassified" plus comments that the U.S. government is concerned about a particular defense treaty.

7 March 2005

Aquino, living in New York City, is arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, accused of overstaying his visa.

8 March 2005

Aragoncillo visits immigration agents in New York, identifies himself as an FBI employee and tells them Aquino is a personal friend. He later calls immigration agents and asks about the status of their investigation. Suspicious immigration agents notify the FBI within weeks.

April 2005

The FBI begins auditing Aragoncillo's use of its ACS computer system. The agency later says that between May and mid-August, Aragoncillo printed or downloaded 101 classified documents about the Philippines, including 37 marked "secret," though he was not assigned to do any research about the country.

6 April 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly sends e-mail to former Philippine president Joseph Estrada that contains a "confidential" document from an unspecified U.S. agency.

27 May 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly sends e-mail to a person identified only as a "current high-level national public official" that contains two U.S. documents. "The attached documents ... are classified as highly sensitive. Please protect accordingly," he writes. The official writes back: "You can count on me. Your document is accurately perfect. If there are confidential matters that you wish to share, dont hesitate because I was fully trained in this endeavor."

10 June 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly e-mails Lacson a document classified "secret," along with the message, "From today's executive briefing."

12 June 2005

Aragoncillo arrives in the Philippines, according to records from the Philippine immigration bureau. He leaves for the United States on July 3.

5 July 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly sends e-mail to an account linked to Estrada that contains information the U.S. government has classified as "secret." The message includes the note, "The attached information are combination of those we've missed while I was in the Philippines," and it concludes with the warning, "Please protect the source."

Late July 2005

The FBI opens a formal espionage investigation of Aragoncillo.

25-26 July 2005

The FBI says Aragoncillo downloads several documents related to the Philippines, including one marked "secret," using his FBI computer.

26 July 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly sends e-mail to an account linked to Estrada that contains the "secret" document he is accused of downloading earlier that day. Also, Aragoncillo allegedly sends another e-mail to Lacson with the same classified document.

5 August 2005

With the FBI watching with a hidden camera, Aragoncillo downloads a document marked "secret" using his FBI computer in his work cubicle. Agents see him copy the document onto a floppy disk, drop the disk in a personal bag and leave at the end of the day carrying the bag. The FBI followed him driving to his home in Woodbury, N.J. From home, Aragoncillo allegedly e-mails the "secret" document to an account linked to Estrada.

7 August 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly e-mails to Lacson the same "secret" document the FBI said it watched him download in his cubicle two days earlier. "The attached documents are provided for your own consumption," Aragoncillo allegedly writes.

25 August 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly e-mails a three-page document marked "confidential" to an account linked to Estrada. "Please protect the source _ me," Aragoncillo allegedly warns. The FBI says Aragoncillo calls Estrada a short time later to discuss the document, and the FBI records the conversation.

26 August 2005

Aragoncillo allegedly e-mails the same "confidential" document to Lacson. "Please read the attached info and provide any comments that you might have," Aragoncillo allegedly writes. "I will continue to send updates if needed. However, if this is becoming a nuisance, please let me know."

28 August 2005

The FBI says Lacson sends a text-message to Aragoncillo's cellular telephone: "What you are sending are never a nuisance to me. They are in fact informative and very useful."

9 September 2005

FBI spy-hunter Edward Finnegan signs court papers detailing the case against Aragoncillo. Aragoncillo is arrested by the FBI at his home in Woodbury on charges of conspiring to reveal government secrets, acting as a foreign agent and improperly using FBI computers. He is not formally charged with espionage.