Posted on 03/21/2012 11:23:36 AM PDT by jazusamo
A noted scientist who held sensitive and high-profile positions in the U.S. government, developed state-of-the-art programs in defense and space, and once worked at the White House in the Executive Office of the President was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison for attempted espionage, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax evasion.
Stewart D. Nozette, 54, who also worked as a scientist for the departments of Energy and Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, pleaded guilty in September 2011 to attempted espionage for providing classified information to a person he believed to be an Israeli intelligence officer. He also pleaded guilty in January 2009 to fraud and tax charges stemming from more than $265,000 in false claims he submitted to the government.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman, who also ordered that Nozette pay more than $217,000 in restitution to the government agencies he defrauded.
Stewart Nozettes greed exceeded his loyalty to our country, said Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. He wasted his talent and ruined his reputation by agreeing to sell national secrets to someone he believed was a foreign agent. His time in prison will provide him ample opportunity to reflect on his decision to betray the United States.
The Justice Department said Nozette has been in custody since his arrest for attempted espionage on Oct. 19, 2009. At the time, he was awaiting sentencing on the fraud and tax-evasion charges. FBI agents arrested Nozette following an undercover operation in which he provided classified materials on three occasions, including one that formed the basis for his guilty plea.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I have sympathy for him. It isn't like he is selling secrets to the communist or muslim terrorists. The Democrats and Obama are screwing the Israeli's left and right. I don't don't blame them for trying to get information from us and I don't blame people who try to get information to them. Sorry. JMHO
I was thinking death penalty. Perhaps I’m being too harsh....
I’ve no sympathy what so ever, he was after money.
He didn’t know it was an undercover FBI agent he was dealing with so he couldn’t have known it was not an agent of a country hostile to us.
Exactly, it’s why I said minimum.
Maybe you should move to Israel.
He should have sold the info to China; there’d be no penalty and no prosecution... (sarc/off)
You are obviously utterly clueless about counterintelligence.
Did you read the "believed to be" part?
What if the supposed Israeli intel officer is actually someone working for the Chinese?
(And as a side note, the Israelis have sold considerable amounts of military technology to the Chinse in the past.)
Jon Pollard was also just helping the Israelis back in 1980s too. He’s still ding life. He deserved a death sentence.
Jon Pollard was also just helping the Israelis back in 1980s too. He’s still doing life. He deserved a death sentence.
I would never betray the USA to any nation, but I understand why people try to help Israel and I understand why Israel spies on everyone. At one time, I didn’t understand, but after seeing them screwed by us whenever a Democrat gets into office or by anti-Israel people in the State Department, I have developed a sense of understanding.
They are a tiny nation surrounded 20 to 1 by wicked, mindless people who want to slaughter them. Israel, England, Australia, Poland all seem to be our best allies today. Unfortunately, can we be trusted to be their ally?
Does anyone know what Obama would do in a crises?
And, Al Gore and Bill Clinton gave MERV technology to the Red Chinese. Obama has lost a stealth helicopter behind enemy lines and practically handed over a stealth drone. So, what is your point?
What Pollard did wasn’t anyway near as bad what the 3 men I just mentioned have done.
I agree with you. The three mentioned should be under a death sentence too.
The FBI agent who represented himself as an Israeli intelligence officer could have been anybody.
Moreover once the information is given out - it can be given or sold to anyone.
This guy deserves death for betraying our nation and the promises he freely gave to protect confidential information that he went out to try to SELL.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.