Jonathan Toebbe, a nuclear engineer assigned to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, held an active national security clearance through the U.S. Department of Defense, which afforded him access to sensitive information. Both he and his wife have been charged for violation of the Atomic Energy Act.
Atomic Energy Act prohibits the communication, transmission, or disclosure of restricted nuclear data with the intent to injure the U.S. or to secure an advantage to any foreign nation.
On 1st April, 2020, Jonathan Toebbe sent a package containing a sample of restricted sensitive data to a foreign government in a bid to establish a relationship to purchase additional sensitive information. The complaint also alleges Toebbe began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual whom he believed to be a representative of the foreign government. According to the affidavit.
Toebbe and his wife, met with an undercover agent on three separate occasions and handed over restricted documents, including encrypted data related to submarine nuclear reactors loaded onto SD cards concealed in a chewing gum packet and half a peanut butter sandwich.
In return they received a total of $100,000 in monero before they were arrested by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in West Virginia on Saturday, the complaint reads.
