OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA – David Franklin Slater, 64, of Nebraska, a former Lieutenant Colonel and civilian employee at U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), has pleaded guilty to a betrayal of national security, admitting to conspiring to transmit classified information to a contact he met on a foreign online dating platform. The scheme unfolded between February and April of 2022, while Slater held a Top Secret security clearance.
The Department of Justice is calling the case a stark example of the dangers posed by individuals entrusted with sensitive information. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated, “The defendant, an employee of the United States Air Force with access to some of our Nation’s most closely held secrets, shared classified information with someone claiming to be a foreigner on an online dating platform.” The Justice Department vows to hold accountable anyone who violates their duty to protect national security.
Court documents reveal a disturbing pattern of behavior. Slater, despite decades of military experience, willingly shared classified briefings – including those detailing Russia’s war in Ukraine at the TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION level – with an individual who presented herself as a woman living in Ukraine. This contact, according to investigators, actively solicited classified information, referring to Slater as her “secret informant love” and “secret agent.” Slater, in turn, transmitted details regarding military targets and Russian military capabilities.
U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska condemned Slater’s actions, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with access to classified information. “David Slater failed in his duty to protect this information by willingly sharing National Defense Information with an unknown online personality,” she said. Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office added, “Mr. Slater betrayed an oath he made to safeguard our nation’s intelligence. Leveraging his access to sensitive information, Mr. Slater chose to transmit material that put our country at risk.”
Slater specifically pleaded guilty to conspiring to transmit National Defense Information classified as “SECRET,” knowing it could injure the United States or benefit a foreign nation. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, and a federal judge will determine the final penalty considering sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors. The FBI Omaha Field Office and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations led the investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Kleine and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. This case serves as a chilling reminder that even those with years of service can be compromised, and that the digital world presents new and evolving threats to national security. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.
RELATED: Vet Funds to Casinos: Dayton Commander Jailed
Related Federal Cases
- Jeffrey K. Wilson Indicted in $13.8M Rent-A-Vet Fraud · Kansas
- Terror Cartel Leader Busted in Texas: Tren de Aragua’s Fall · New Mexico
- Altoona First Savings Bank CEO Troy Campbell Named to FDIC Advisory Committee · Pennsylvania
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Google Hit with Antitrust Win in New York AG’s Suit · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News