A Maryland scientist charged with passing documents to an undercover FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence officer is also believed to have given classified information to a company owned by the Israeli government, prosecutors said.
Stewart Nozette was held without bail Thursday after a federal judge concluded there was no way to ensure Nozette would not flee the country. During a six-week period that ended earlier this month, Nozette allegedly provided U.S. military secrets to an undercover FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence officer for $11,000. Nozette held top-secret clearance for more than 20 years and helped develop the anti-missile program known as Star Wars.
On Thursday, prosecutors said Nozette admitted to the undercover agent that he had passed classified information to Israel Aircraft Industries, a company wholly owned by the Israeli government. Between 1998 and 2008, Nozette provided answers to monthly questionnaires the company sent him in return for $225,000, court documents said.
Nozette’s attorney, John Kiyonaga, said the claim had no basis.
When asked whether Israel had started an investigation into Israel Aircraft Industries, a spokesman at the country’s embassy only said, “The government of Israel is not connected to this issue.” The U.S. Justice Department has said Israel did not break any laws.
According to court documents, Nozette told a friend that if the U.S. government tried to put him in jail after he overbilled NASA and other agencies by $265,000 for consulting work, then he would flee to Israel and turn over classified information.
Nozette pleaded guilty to the fraud in January. He was out on bail awaiting a November sentencing when authorities say Nozette met with the FBI undercover agent and asked for an Israeli passport and $2 million in exchange for classified information on satellite programs, nuclear weapons and U.S. military plans for responses to major attacks, prosecutors said.
By the time he first met with the undercover agent in early September, Nozette had stashed cash and hard drives containing classified information in safety deposit boxes around the country, court documents said. One of those boxes was opened in July in a bank just north of San Diego. When agents searched the box, they found three computer drives, 55 gold coins worth $50,000 and $30,000 in savings bonds.
“[Nozette] had no loyalty to his country,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Curtis. “He is only motivated by greed.”
