Former defense contractor John Murray Rowe Jr. has pleaded guilty to charges of attempted espionage, admitting to attempting to deliver national defense information to a foreign government. According to court documents, Rowe, who held various national security clearances and worked on sensitive defense projects, disclosed classified information to an undercover FBI agent posing as a Russian government agent.
During a meeting with the undercover agent, Rowe revealed specific operating details of electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets. In subsequent communications, he expressed a willingness to work for the Russian government and shared further classified information related to U.S. national security. Rowe even stated, “If I can’t get a job here then I’ll go work for the other team.”
Rowe's actions led to his arrest in December 2021, and he was found to have made unauthorized disclosures of classified information concerning the U.S. Air Force to his brother, son, and realtor while in pretrial detention. Sentencing for Rowe is scheduled for Aug. 22, with a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee, with additional support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. The FBI continues to investigate the matter.