---
category: Other
summary: Barnes was involved in a 'reverse sting' operation where methamphetamine
  precursors were reportedly supplied to Ben Kalka.
tags:
- Person
---

[Robert Barnes](/people/robert-barnes/) was an [FBI](/organizations/federal-bureau-of-investigation/) agent at the San Francisco Bureau. He worked with [Philip Arthur Thompson](/people/philip-arthur-thompson/) (PAT), who served as an undercover informant for him. Barnes admitted to Detective [Sue Todd](/people/sue-todd/) in June 2000 that PAT had worked for him.[^1]

Barnes was involved in a "reverse sting" operation where methamphetamine precursors were reportedly supplied to [Ben Kalka](/people/ben-kalka/). He was also the agent who cleared the laundering of millions of dollars through a principality in [Liechtenstein](/places/liechtenstein/).[^1]

[Michael Riconosciuto](/people/michael-riconosciuto/) claimed that a chemical company was cooperating with the [FBI](/organizations/federal-bureau-of-investigation/) and reporting all the chemicals Riconosciuto ordered for his chemical companies in Washington State, which Riconosciuto then provided to [Ben Kalka](/people/ben-kalka/). Riconosciuto also stated that he was working for the [FBI](/organizations/federal-bureau-of-investigation/) when he connected with [Ben Kalka](/people/ben-kalka/) and that the agency told him to find the monomethylamine for Kalka as part of the sting operation.[^1]

Barnes received three of [Michael Riconosciuto](/people/michael-riconosciuto/)'s computer coded cards from PAT, which he sent to Quantico. PAT, however, withheld one of the cards for himself. These cards were allegedly connected to the deaths of [Paul Morasca](/people/paul-morasca/) and [Mary Quick](/people/mary-quick/).[^1]

---

[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.