John Reece Roth, Arms Export Violations, Tennessee 2008

Knoxville, TN – In a stunning case of betrayal of national trust, 72-year-old John Reece Roth, a former University of Tennessee professor, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for violating the Arms Export Control Act by conspiring to illegally export, and actually exporting, technical information relating to a U.S. Air Force research and development contract.

The illegal exports by Dr. Roth of technical information, known as “technical data,” related to his illegal disclosure and transport of restricted military information associated with the USAF contract to develop specialized plasma technology for use on an advanced form of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also known as a drone.

According to the indictment, Dr. Roth conspired with Atmospheric Glow Technology, Inc., a Knoxville technology company, of unlawfully exporting in 2005 and 2006 fifteen different “defense articles” to a citizen of the People’s Republic of China in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. This law prohibits the export of defense-related materials, including the technical data, to a foreign national or a foreign nation.

Dr. Roth was also convicted of one count of wire fraud relating to defrauding the University of Tennessee of his honest services by illegally exporting sensitive military information relating to this USAF research and development contract.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation and was joined in its efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Theodore and Will Mackie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

U.S. Attorney Dedrick commended the efforts of the special agents from the agencies supporting the investigation, stating, “This case should send a stern warning to those who would betray the trust of our nation by violating the export control laws by providing our military information to foreign nationals.”

Dr. Roth will serve a term of two years supervised release after completing his prison term. This case highlights the serious consequences of violating national security laws and the importance of safeguarding sensitive military technology.

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