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Man Caught Trying To Sell Plans For New Aircraft Carrier

Posted by Soulskill on from the bet-you-wish-you'd-stood-in-bed dept.

New submitter cyberjock1980 tips news that an engineer has been caught trying to deliver schematics for an aircraft carrier to the Egyptian government. The 35-year-old civilian received security clearance four months ago after working for the U.S. Navy since February. FBI agents made contact with him, pretending to be with the Egyptian government. They struck a deal to buy documents about the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, the first in a new line of improved, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The man sold four CAD drawings for the carrier, and was later seen photographing another set of schematics. A bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

6 of 388 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What in the hell was he thinking? by Dorianny · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The FBI contacted him pretending to be from the Egyptian government and undoubtedly offering a boatload of money. It is not known whether he accepted out of a sense of patriotism he felt for Egypt or for the boatload of money.

  2. Re:Entrapment is lazy policing by Hunter-Killer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The problem is not necessarily place of origin, but whether you can be turned. You can be the most patriotic person on the planet, but you'll be denied if there's a non-negligible chance your close relatives overseas can be imprisoned/tortured unless you agree to spy for the host country. I wouldn't take it personally.

  3. Entrapping idiot with dubious plot by billstewart · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yes, the guy had a security clearance, so I suppose entrapping him can be considered part of the quality control process, but it's still ridiculous; Egypt would get much more effective military use from a dirt airstrip in the Sinai than an aircraft carrier. But hey, the FBI gets to put out a press release claiming they caught a spy! And it's less ridiculous than the time they entrapped half a dozen drunken bums in Chicago into a "plot to bomb the Sears tower", and less dangerous than the time they helped half a dozen Al-Qaeda plotters mix fertilizer explosive for the first World Trade Center bombing.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
    1. Re:Entrapping idiot with dubious plot by TWX · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This makes me sad, in that he should have been smarter than this to get an engineering degree in the first place.

      Expensive as it might be, the first call he should have made would have been to his lawyer. Based on the advice of that call, the second call he should have made should have been to the justice department or to have his lawyer call the justice department to arrange a meeting to disclose that he was contacted and requested to provide information in exchange for money. Let the lawyer make the arrangements and do the talking if possible. After that, let the justice department figure out what to do. If it's a test, then he's off scott-free and might even be able to get the lawyer fees paid-for by the government. If it's real, then there's even a chance that the government will want to provide him with specific information to pass along and they could even let him keep the money.

      To attempt to sell secrets under any other circumstances is bound to result in being caught.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    2. Re:Entrapping idiot with dubious plot by kcitren · · Score: 3, Interesting

      People with security clearances are both encouraged and rewarded for doing the right thing.

      Nope, they are not encouraged, they are *required* to report these types of activities.

  4. Re:What in the hell was he thinking? by dbIII · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A border runs through the lake. It's a real navy not just pining for a coastline.
    See also the actions of the US Navy on the lakes in the war of 1812 and earlier.