Posted on Aug 18, 2022
Judge rejects plea agreements from ex-Navy engineer, wife in nuclear submarine espionage case
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A federal judge rejected the government’s proposed prison sentences for former Annapolis-based Navy engineer Jonathan Toebbe and his wife, six months after they pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to sell classified nuclear submarine secrets to a foreign government, saying Tuesday that they were too lenient.
U.S. District Court Judge Gina Groh of the Northern District of West Virginia said the proposed sentences for Toebbe, 43, and his wife, Diana, were “not in the best interest” of the country.
U.S. District Court Judge Gina Groh of the Northern District of West Virginia said the proposed sentences for Toebbe, 43, and his wife, Diana, were “not in the best interest” of the country.
Judge rejects plea agreements from ex-Navy engineer, wife in nuclear submarine espionage case
Posted from baltimoresun.com
Annapolis
Submarines
Espionage
Punishment
Security Clearance
Posted >1 y ago
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Let them sit in a cell for the rest of their lives -- thems the consequences
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."It was good tradecraft,” Special Agent Peter Olinits said in October about the couple’s tactics for avoiding surveillance.
Jonathan Toebbe, in an encrypted message with FBI agents posing as a foreign entity, said he expected there could come a time his family would need to leave the country on short notice.
“Should that ever become necessary, I will be forever grateful for your help extracting me and my family,” he wrote. “I surmise the first step would be unannounced travel to a safe third country with plans to meet your colleagues. We have passports and cash set aside for this purpose.”
When agents raided the couple’s suburban home last October, they found items suggesting the family of four was ready to flee the country at a moment’s notice: more than $11,000 in cash consisting of $100 bills wrapped with rubber bands, their kids’ passports, a backpack with a computer and a cryptocurrency wallet.
Toebbe signed every encrypted email as “Alice,” describing the format of the information he provided and often expressing concerns about the possibility that he may be communicating with law enforcement, which he regularly referred to as “adversaries.”
“Thank you for your partnership as well, my friend,” Jonathan Toebbe wrote in an encrypted email to a federal agent. “One day, when it is safe, perhaps two old friends will have a chance to stumble into each other at a cafe, share a bottle of wine and laugh over stories of their shared exploits.”
..."It was good tradecraft,” Special Agent Peter Olinits said in October about the couple’s tactics for avoiding surveillance.
Jonathan Toebbe, in an encrypted message with FBI agents posing as a foreign entity, said he expected there could come a time his family would need to leave the country on short notice.
“Should that ever become necessary, I will be forever grateful for your help extracting me and my family,” he wrote. “I surmise the first step would be unannounced travel to a safe third country with plans to meet your colleagues. We have passports and cash set aside for this purpose.”
When agents raided the couple’s suburban home last October, they found items suggesting the family of four was ready to flee the country at a moment’s notice: more than $11,000 in cash consisting of $100 bills wrapped with rubber bands, their kids’ passports, a backpack with a computer and a cryptocurrency wallet.
Toebbe signed every encrypted email as “Alice,” describing the format of the information he provided and often expressing concerns about the possibility that he may be communicating with law enforcement, which he regularly referred to as “adversaries.”
“Thank you for your partnership as well, my friend,” Jonathan Toebbe wrote in an encrypted email to a federal agent. “One day, when it is safe, perhaps two old friends will have a chance to stumble into each other at a cafe, share a bottle of wine and laugh over stories of their shared exploits.”
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