Quick Facts
Biography
Jones Orin York (August 5, 1893 – July 1970) was recruited in California by Soviet spy Stanislau Shumovskij approximately in 1935.In 1950 York told the FBI that he had passed secrets to the KGB since the mid-1930s, including plans for a new airplane engine of his own design and documents on the newest fighter developed by Northrop Corporation.York told the FBI that his KGB handler during 1941-42 had been Bill Weisband, who had helped him buy a camera for photographing documents.York admitted he was in it for the money, although he received very little.
York's allegation was disturbing news, implying that the KGB had a mole in the sensitive Armed Forces Security Agency (AFSA). York's code name in Soviet intelligence and in the Venona project is "NEEDLE".