This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
A U.S. naval seaman has been sentenced to three years in a military prison after admitting he sought to share classified information about U.S. nuclear-powered warships with Russia.
The Associated Press reported on May 24 that Petty Officer Second Class Stephen Kellogg wanted to expose waste in the U.S. Navy.
Jeff Houston, of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, told AP that Kellogg, 26, tried to make contact with Sevmash, a major manufacturer of Russian nuclear submarines.
Navy Sailor Sentenced for Attempted Communication of Classified National Defense Information: U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Kellogg III was sentenced at a general court-martial to three years of confinement after pleading guilty to charges r… https://t.co/PjuEPG8UGv
— FBI San Diego (@FBISanDiego) May 24, 2019
Authorities learned of his plans after arresting Kellogg on August 27 for being drunk as he sought to board a flight from San Diego, California, to New York City.
Court records said Kellogg had bought a one-way plane ticket and planned to meet a friend from high school who is a journalist in New York.
Kellogg worked as an electrician and had classified information relating to the capabilities of the Navy’s nuclear propulsion systems.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Kellogg III admits he took classified information that he planned to make public and then defect to Russia. https://t.co/XMs5aVCazN
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) May 24, 2019
Kellogg also allegedly told a roommate that he planned to defect to Russia, had written an e-mail to an address associated with Sevmash, and called the company six times.
