PHILADELPHIA – In a shocking betrayal of his country, 65-year-old John Murray Rowe Jr. has pleaded guilty to attempting to deliver national defense information to a foreign government in exchange for a job, Grimy Times has learned.
Rowe, a former test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors, held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology.
A federal investigation revealed that Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat due to a number of security violations and his devout interest in Russian affairs. He was subsequently terminated from his employment. However, Rowe’s allegiance to Russia remained strong, and he began secretly meeting with an undercover FBI agent posing as a Russian government representative.
During their meetings, Rowe disclosed classified information concerning U.S. Air Force electronic countermeasure systems used by fighter jets, among other sensitive details. In one email, Rowe stated, “If I can’t get a job here then I’ll go work for the other team.” In another email, he disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force.
Rowe was arrested on December 15, 2021, and ordered detained pending trial. While in pretrial detention, he made at least three unauthorized disclosures of classified information to individuals not authorized to receive it, including his brother, son, and realtor. The disclosures were captured on recorded prison calls.
“It’s abhorrent that Rowe would try to betray his own country for the benefit of a foreign adversary,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. “Safeguarding the U.S. government’s sensitive defense information is critical to ensuring our national security, and anyone seeking to compromise that should expect to be brought to justice by my office and our law enforcement partners.”
Rowe faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment and is set to be sentenced on August 22, 2024. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wolfe and DOJ Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section.
The FBI and law enforcement partners remain committed to bringing to justice those who choose to threaten our nation’s security by disseminating classified information,” said FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs. “After nearly 40 years working in the defense industry and being entrusted with our country’s military secrets, Rowe admitted to unlawfully disclosing classified national defense information.”
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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