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A former US defense contractor has officially been sentenced for attempting to share classified military information with the Russian government.

Getting into it: In an announcement, the DOJ confirmed that John Murray Rowe (67) of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced to 126 months in federal prison, along with three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine, for attempting to pass classified national defense information to what he believed was the Russian government. Rowe, a former defense contractor with nearly 40 years of experience, held high-level security clearances and had worked on sensitive US Air Force projects. His actions came under scrutiny after a series of security violations and inappropriate inquiries, including an attempt to bring a thumb drive into a classified area and questions about obtaining dual US-Russian security clearances.

After being terminated from his job in 2018, Rowe was targeted in an FBI sting operation. Beginning in March 2020, he engaged in over 300 email exchanges with an undercover FBI agent posing as a Russian operative. During these communications, Rowe expressed disloyalty to the United States and offered to assist the Russian government, sharing classified details about electronic countermeasure systems used by US military fighter jets. He also met twice in person with the agent and confirmed his willingness to work for Russia.

In one email, Rowe wrote, “If I can’t get a job here then I’ll go work for the other team.” He even discussed Russian citizenship laws and expressed interest in relocating to Moscow. The FBI ultimately arrested him in December 2021, and while in pretrial detention, Rowe repeatedly disclosed classified information to family members during recorded prison calls, which became additional evidence against him.

Rowe ultimately pleaded guilty in April 2024 to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government and three counts of willful communication of such information.

In a statement, US Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said, “Despite his knowledge, training, experience, and decades of work as a military contractor, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country. His repeated, willful efforts to harm the US by divulging sensitive defense information to an adversary are inexcusable. My office and our partners will continue to hold fully accountable anyone seeking to compromise the national security of the United States.”

Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division echoed this, saying, “By attempting to disclose classified information on US Air Force systems to the Russians, this sentencing demonstrates the FBI and our partners will use every tool available to safeguard the homeland from internal and external threats. Anyone tempted to violate their oath to safeguard classified information should understand the severe consequences — and remember the FBI will never stop until we bring you to justice.”