Former Georgia FBI Agent pleads guilty to sharing sensitive information

ROME, Ga. (WDEF) — A former Northwest Georgia FBI agent pleads guilty to sharing sensitive information while he was working undercover in the Crimes Against Children Task Force.

At the federal courthouse in Rome on Thursday, former undercover FBI agent Ken Hillman, admitted to a judge in August through November of 2012 he allowed two people to see confidential information. Retired FBI Supervisor, Jeff Danik consults on cases.

“I got interested in this through the criminal aspect of my private practice and I specialize in FBI undercover cases, helping defend against them because most of the time the FBI bring it, they are doing a really great job,” Danik said.

Hillman worked in the Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force. Because of the nature of the work, Danik says agents shouldn’t be undercover for too long.

“The problem the government has in this case is the FBI left Ken Hillman undercover for almost six years. It was unconscionable what they did to him,” Danik said.

Hillman admitted to letting one woman, who wasn’t cleared, participate in the task force operation.

“She was the driving force in it that wanted to help and so rather than opening her up as a source, which is a lot of paperwork and then two weeks later then maybe her bail like so many people do because they can’t take it, he just tried her out for awhile. She ended up working out. He probably would have opened her but then the psychological thing caved on him at that time,” Danik said.

Daniks says this all could have been prevented.

“This is what really galls me about the case that the FBI executives get away with this type of stuff on the grand stage, but an agent who does something much less for a much greater purpose is in front of a judge, ending his career and pleading guilty.”

At the end of the hearing, the judge thanked Hillman for all of his hard work with task force.

Hillman could face up to a year behind bars when he is sentenced.