Twelve years ago, John Mark Dougan, a former deputy sheriff in Palm Beach County, Fla., sent voters an email pretending to be a county commissioner, urging them to oppose the re-election of the county’s sheriff.
Later, he posed as a Russian tech worker using the pseudonym BadVolf to leak confidential information in violation of state law, fooling officials in Florida who believed they were dealing with a foreigner.
He also pretended to be a fictional New York City heiress named Jessica, tricking an adviser to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office into revealing improper conduct by the department.
“And boy, did he ever spill ALL of the beans,” Mr. Dougan said in a written response to questions for this article, confirming his involvement in these incidents.
These deceptions in the United States were just the beginning of a more significant and potentially more ominous campaign of deception that he has been carrying out from Russia.
Mr. Dougan, 51, who obtained political asylum in Moscow, is now a key figure in Russia’s disinformation efforts against the West. He has built a network of over 160 fake websites mimicking news outlets in the United States, Britain, and France.
Using artificial intelligence tools, he has populated these sites with thousands of articles, some based on real news events, while others are bespoke fabrications attributed to Russian intelligence agencies or President Vladimir V. Putin’s administration.
Between September and May, Mr. Dougan’s outlets have been referenced in news articles or social media posts nearly 8,000 times, reaching over 37 million people in 16 languages, according to a report by NewsGuard.
The sites have disseminated false narratives, such as one alleging that Ukraine’s president smuggled cocaine and another claiming CIA involvement in undermining Donald J. Trump’s campaign.
Despite denying operating the sites, evidence points to Mr. Dougan’s involvement, including web domains and internet protocol addresses.
Steven Brill, a founder of NewsGuard, described Mr. Dougan’s activities as a significant intrusion into the American news ecosystem.
Mr. Dougan’s journey as a tool in the Kremlin’s propaganda war follows a troubled past in the United States, including legal issues and accusations of misconduct during his time as a law enforcement officer.
He is currently wanted in Florida on 21 felony charges related to cyberstalking and wiretapping.
His activities from Moscow continue to draw attention from U.S. authorities, including impersonating an F.B.I. agent in a phone call to Mr. Brill.
Mr. Dougan’s efforts in Russia have focused on spreading propaganda, including false information about the war in Ukraine.
In Russia, Mr. Dougan has portrayed himself as a journalist, posting content on YouTube and appearing on state media.
He has been criticized for spreading misinformation about the war in Ukraine, aligning with Russia’s propaganda narrative.
Mr. Dougan’s websites have been used to disseminate false narratives and fabrications attributed to Russian propaganda units.
The sites have expanded to include new domains and have been linked to Russian disinformation efforts.
His activities have raised concerns about potential interference in upcoming elections worldwide.
Despite denying any financial support from Russian authorities, evidence suggests Mr. Dougan’s ties to Russian disinformation agencies.
His activities have shifted in response to scrutiny, with new sites appearing to obfuscate his Russian links.
Mr. Dougan’s actions have drawn attention from researchers and government officials, who warn of the potential impact on democratic systems.
