Couple jailed for selling nuclear data to Brazil

An American couple was convicted yesterday of trying to sell sensitive US information about nuclear propulsion systems for US ships to Brazil. The man, identified by a US court as Jonathan Tobey, 44, was sentenced to 19 years in prison, while his wife, Diana Tobey, 46, will serve 21 years. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy in August.

“The couple conspired to sell sensitive information affecting the lives of military men and women and the security of the United States,” said Matthew G. Olsen said.

“These actions are a betrayal not only of the American government, but also of the American people,” said Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, Alan E. Kohler Jr. said.

The couple gave the information to Brazil because they believed the country was rich enough to buy the secrets, not hostile to the United States and eager to acquire the same technology. However, once the two handed over the documents to Brazilian intelligence, the government turned the pages over to the FBI.

According to further investigations, the couple also chose Brazil because it was morally unacceptable to try to sell documents to US enemies or closest allies.

Jonathan and Diana were arrested in October after being tricked by an undercover FBI agent posing as Brazil’s representative at the talks.

On June 8, 2021, the undercover agent sent Jonathan $10,000 worth of cryptocurrency as a “good faith” payment. Shortly thereafter, on June 26, Jonathan transmitted the information via a memory card hidden inside a medium. Sandwich Peanut butter.

This card contained important military design information regarding submarine nuclear reactors. In return, Jonathan received a $70,000 reward.

It was Diana who accompanied Jonathan during the distribution of information at pre-defined locations. She played the role of watchman, in charge of identifying whether her husband was being followed.

According to court documents, at the time of his arrest, Jonathan was a Navy employee working as a nuclear engineer and assigned to the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, known as Naval Reactors.

He obtained an active national security clearance through the Department of Defense, giving him access to “restricted data” under the US Nuclear Act.