A former senior official of the Federal Reserve was sentenced to more than three years in prison after becoming involved with an individual alleged to be a Chinese spy, according to court records and reports. John Harold Rogers, 65, who met the alleged operative through an online dating site in 2013, was accused of being blackmailed over explicit photographs and subsequently pressured to provide information related to U.S. monetary policy.

Rogers initially connected with a woman, Yu Liu, via AsianDating.com and shared explicit images with her. During this period, an individual identified as Humin Lee allegedly provided assistance to Rogers, such as help with travel arrangements, fostering a relationship of trust. Rogers and Liu eventually married in 2018.

Authorities contend that Lee used this connection to extract information from Rogers about the inner workings of the Federal Reserve, including data on U.S. monetary policy and the Trump administration’s stance on trade issues. Rogers purportedly shared Federal Reserve materials with Lee, though his legal defense argued that the information involved was neither sensitive nor classified.

While Rogers was acquitted of charges related to conspiring to commit economic espionage, he was found guilty of making false statements to federal investigators during the inquiry. In July, he received a sentence of 38 months in federal prison. The case highlights ongoing concerns about attempts by foreign actors to gain access to sensitive U.S. economic information through covert operations and personal relationships.