Former NSA Employee Pleads Guilty to Espionage for Russia

A former employee of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has admitted guilt in charges accusing him of attempting to transmit classified defense information to Russia.

Jareh Sebastian Dalke, aged 31, previously held the role of Information Systems Security Designer at the NSA. His tenure at the agency spanned from June 6, 2022, to July 1, 2022, during which he possessed Top Secret clearance that granted him access to sensitive documents. This development has unfolded over a year since his initial arrest.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) in a press release issued on a Monday, Dalke confessed to engaging in activities between August and September 2022 aimed at demonstrating his “legitimate access and willingness to share.” In this regard, he used an encrypted email account to send excerpts from three classified documents to an individual he believed to be a Russian agent. However, in reality, the individual was an undercover operative employed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Furthermore, Dalke, who is a former U.S. Army soldier, stands accused of soliciting an $85,000 payment in exchange for the classified information he possessed. He claimed that the data would be of significant value to Russia, with a promise of sharing additional documents in the future.

The transmission of these documents occurred at Union Station in downtown Denver, Colorado, via a laptop. Notably, four out of the five files transferred contained Top Secret National Defense Information (NDI). The materials included insights related to the NSA’s plans to update an unspecified cryptographic program, as well as threat assessments concerning sensitive U.S. defense capabilities and Russia’s offensive potential.

The fifth file contained a letter in which Dalke conveyed, “My friends! I am very happy to finally provide this information to you. . . . I look forward to our friendship and shared benefit [sic]. Please let me know if there are desired documents to find, and I will try when I return to my main office.”

Dalke’s arrest by authorities took place on September 28, 2022, immediately following the file transfer.

Having now pleaded guilty, Dalke anticipates his sentencing, scheduled for April 26, 2024. If convicted, he could potentially face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.