(Wikimedia Commons)

A team of CIA analysts paid Levinson to investigate the Iranian regime for the American government. The mission was not authorized by the agency. 

This resulted in the firing of three veteran analysts and the discipline of seven others.

After his disappearance, the U.S. government claimed he was a private citizen who went missing during a business trip. The CIA paid Levison’s family $2.5 million to discourage a lawsuit. 

The AP uncovered Levinson’s CIA ties in 2010. It agreed three times to delay releasing the story because the U.S. government said it was following promising leads to recover him.  But there is still no confirmation about his captors or his fate.  

Government officials have said they believe Iran either holds him or knows who does. 

In October 2007, Levinson’s lawyer discovered e-mails between his client and a friend who worked for the CIA. Before he left the U.S., Levinson told her that he was arranging a meeting with a contact who had access to the Iranian regime.

The registry of the hotel in Kish showed Levinson checking out on March 9, 2007.

That was the last anybody has heard of him.

Reach Executive Producer Anne Artley here