US Navy Sailor Accused Of Transmitting Confidential Data To Foreign Government
A US Navy sailor posted in Japan has been charged with espionage for allegedly transmitting confidential information to a foreign country. According to a charge sheet, the accused, Bryce Pedicini, who is a Chief Petty Officer Fire Controlman, is charged with multiple counts of espionage and disclosing national defence information.
The allegations against Pedicini span from November 2022 to February 2023, when he allegedly transmitted documents to a foreign government employee at least seven times. The incidents reportedly occurred in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Yokosuka, Japan, when Pedicini allegedly attempted to upload images of the screen of a military computer connected to a classified network.
The charge sheet claims that Pedicini knowingly provided this information to believe that information would be used to damage the United States and the advantage of a foreign country. Still, the documents’ specific details and the foreign government’s identity are kept secret.
Additionally, Pedicini is accused of failing to report foreign connections, collecting secret information, and mishandling classified materials. He has been in detention since May 2023, when he allegedly attempted to transfer confidential information to Japan.
During the incident, Bryce Pedicini served on the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76). The investigation is underway, and legal procedures are initiated according to the US Navy. Pedicini’s service record shows that he joined the US Navy in 2009 and served on many destroyers until being promoted to chief in 2022.
The incident comes amid increased scrutiny of secret information breaches within the military. In another incident, two US Navy servicemen were arrested in August of last year for allegedly passing secret military intelligence to China. Wenheng Zhao pleaded guilty and received a prison sentence, while Jinchao Wei awaits trial.
The case overlaps with claims against Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard soldier accused of disclosing confidential data online. Teixeira was arrested about a month before Pedicini’s imprisonment. The allegations against Pedicini demonstrate the significance of military security violations and the continuous attempts to protect confidential information from foreign espionage threats.
Reference: BBC, CNN
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