Colorado Spy Sentenced to 21+ Years for Treasonous Deal with Russia

DENVER — A former National Security Agency (NSA) employee has been sentenced to over 21 years in prison for attempting to sell classified information to a Russian agent.

Jareh Sebastian Dalke, 32, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced to 262 months in prison for his role in attempting to transmit classified National Defense Information (NDI) to a foreign agent. In 2023, Dalke pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to transmit classified NDI to a foreign agent.

According to court documents, Dalke worked as an Information Systems Security Designer at the NSA from June 6 to July 1, 2022. Between August and September 2022, Dalke used an encrypted email account to transmit excerpts of three classified documents to an individual he believed to be a Russian agent. However, the individual was actually an FBI online covert employee.

Dalke requested $85,000 in return for the classified information, claiming it would be of value to Russia. He also arranged to transfer additional classified information at Union Station in downtown Denver, but was arrested by the FBI on September 28, 2022, moments after transmitting the files.

“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,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This sentence demonstrates that those who seek to betray our country will be held accountable for their crimes.”

“Two primary objectives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado include keeping our citizens safe, and safeguarding the United States of America,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado. “Not only is this case an exceptional example of federal law enforcement cooperation, but the sentence Mr. Dalke received today reflects the seriousness of the actions he took in attempt to injure our country and help a foreign government.”

Jareh Sebastian Dalke, 32, of Colorado Springs, will spend the next 21+ years behind bars for his treasonous deal with Russia. The former NSA employee was sentenced to 262 months in prison for his role in attempting to transmit classified National Defense Information (NDI) to a foreign agent.