Nuclear Secrets Allegedly Stolen From Tenn. Lab
Officials said the worker was charged as a result of a later sting in which investigators posed as representatives of a "foreign government" willing to pay for the nuclear research materials.
Officials did not identify to which country the suspect allegedly thought he was selling the secrets.
Officials did not identify to which country the suspect allegedly thought he was selling the secrets.
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First On WNBC.com
POSTED: 10:12 am EDT July 19, 2007
NEW YORK -- WNBC.com's Jonathan Dienst has learned a contract worker is accused of stealing nuclear secrets from the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee.
Investigators said the worker wanted to sell the secrets to a "foreign country."
Investigators are calling the theft a serious breach of security at one of the country's most important nuclear research labs. Officials said there was serious concern the documents could have fallen into the hands of enemy states or even terrorist organizations.
NewsChannel4 has learned that among the materials allegedly stolen was classified information about the uranium enrichment process. Officials familiar with the case said the suspect will face charges including violations of the Atomic Energy Act.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, worked as an escort at the facility. Officials said his contracting job was to escort visitors to and from offices at the lab.
Sources said it is unclear how a low-level contract worker was able to obtain some of the nation's highly guarded nuclear documents.
Spokesmen at the Justice Department, FBI and Department of Energy declined to comment.
An announcement on the security breach and resulting criminal charges are expected later Thursday.
WNBC.com has learned FBI agents and Department of Energy investigators have searched the suspect’s home in the investigation, which began several months ago...
First On WNBC.com
POSTED: 10:12 am EDT July 19, 2007
NEW YORK -- WNBC.com's Jonathan Dienst has learned a contract worker is accused of stealing nuclear secrets from the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee.
Investigators said the worker wanted to sell the secrets to a "foreign country."
Investigators are calling the theft a serious breach of security at one of the country's most important nuclear research labs. Officials said there was serious concern the documents could have fallen into the hands of enemy states or even terrorist organizations.
NewsChannel4 has learned that among the materials allegedly stolen was classified information about the uranium enrichment process. Officials familiar with the case said the suspect will face charges including violations of the Atomic Energy Act.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, worked as an escort at the facility. Officials said his contracting job was to escort visitors to and from offices at the lab.
Sources said it is unclear how a low-level contract worker was able to obtain some of the nation's highly guarded nuclear documents.
Spokesmen at the Justice Department, FBI and Department of Energy declined to comment.
An announcement on the security breach and resulting criminal charges are expected later Thursday.
WNBC.com has learned FBI agents and Department of Energy investigators have searched the suspect’s home in the investigation, which began several months ago...
posted by jillosophy at 7/19/2007 11:43:00 AM
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