PHILADELPHIA – John Murray Rowe Jr., 65, of Lead, South Dakota, has pleaded guilty in federal court to attempted espionage and willful communication of national defense information.
Rowe, a former test engineer for multiple Cleared Defense Contractors, has been terminated from employment following several security violations and his interest in Russian affairs. He was identified as a potential insider threat.
In March 2020, Rowe met with an undercover FBI agent posing as a Russian government agent and disclosed classified information about U.S. Air Force electronic warfare systems. Over eight months, he exchanged over 300 emails with the ‘agent,’ discussing his intentions to work for Russia and sharing classified information.
Rowe was arrested in December 2021 and detained pending trial. While in pretrial detention, he made unauthorized disclosures of classified information to family members and a realtor, captured on recorded prison calls.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero emphasized the importance of safeguarding national defense information, stating that those who compromise this should expect justice. Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, highlighted the threat posed by Rowe’s actions and the FBI’s commitment to justice.
Sentencing is set for August 22, 2024, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wolfe and DOJ Trial Attorney Scott Claffee.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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