21-year jail sentence for ex-NSA employee in Russia spy case
For representative use.
Jareh Sebastian Dalke, a 32-year-old who briefly worked for the National Security Agency (NSA), was sentenced to over 21 years in prison on Monday (Apr 29) for trying to spy for Russia, the Justice Department said.
While being employed at the NSA for a short period, Dalke reportedly acquired classified documents. After leaving the agency, he allegedly attempted to sell them for $85,000 to someone he believed was a Russian agent, according to court documents.
He was actually dealing with an undercover FBI agent.
Dalke pleaded guilty in October in US District Court to six counts of attempting to transmit classified national defence information to an agent of a foreign government.
"This defendant, who had sworn an oath to defend our country, believed he was selling classified national security information to a Russian agent, when in fact, he was outing himself to the FBI," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
"This sentence demonstrates that those who seek to betray our country will be held accountable for their crimes."
What classified information did Dalke try to sell?
As stated in the indictment, the information Dalke intended to provide to Russia involved a threat assessment of the military capabilities of an undisclosed third country.
It also included details about sensitive US defence capabilities, some of which pertained to the same foreign nation.
The terms of the plea deal stipulate that Dalke must cooperate with authorities, sharing truthful and valuable insights into his actions and their consequences.
Dalke had previously worked as an information systems security designer for the National Security Agency, the US intelligence agency responsible for gathering and analysing signals from both foreign and domestic sources for intelligence and counterintelligence purposes.
Following his departure and the transfer of classified information to an undercover agent, prosecutors allege that he reapplied for a position at the NSA.
(With inputs from agencies)