Ep 2. The Spies Next Door

The FBI Declassified is a true-crime series that features some of the most complex and perplexing cases in the history of the FBI. The show offers gripping insights into some of the most notorious cases in U.S. history, including cold cases, espionage, and terrorism.

In season 1, episode 2 titled "The Spies Next Door," the show delves deep into the cunning and deceptive world of espionage. This episode focuses on the story of a couple that lived next door to the United States military base in Jersey City, N.J. The couple lived a seemingly normal life, but they were secretly working for the Russian government as spies.

The episode begins with a flashback to 2010 when the FBI agents first became aware of the couple's espionage activities. The FBI's investigative team had been investigating the couple for several years, but they had never been able to find any hard evidence of their espionage activities. However, they had an inkling that something was brewing, and they continued to investigate.

As the years went by, the couple became more and more brazen with their activities, and the FBI finally had the opportunity to place wiretaps on their phone lines. The wiretaps and other surveillance techniques allowed the FBI to gain unprecedented access to the couple's communications and day-to-day activities.

The show's producers pull no punches and offer raw footage of the couple's illegal activities. Viewers will be left staggered by the sheer audacity of the couple's actions as the FBI slowly reveals the depth of their deception. All the while, the FBI team had to be extremely careful not to alert the spies to their investigation, which was a challenging task.

In a dramatic twist, the episode reveals that the couple had more than just military secrets in their possession. They were also privy to classified information about the New York Stock Exchange, which they were using to enrich themselves and other Russian operatives by trading stocks. The FBI was shocked to discover that the couple were not only spies but also had their fingers in the financial world.

The episode raises several questions about the effectiveness of U.S. counterintelligence against espionage. It is a gripping account of the tireless efforts of U.S. law enforcement agencies to protect its citizens from foreign threats.

Overall, season 1, episode 2 of The FBI Declassified offers a riveting account of the spies that lived next door and their daring espionage activities. The show is a must-watch for true-crime enthusiasts and those interested in the intricacies of the U.S. government's efforts to protect its citizens.