US sentences spy to 16 yrs in prison
Spec. William Colton Millay (file photo)
A US military panel has sentenced a former Alaska-based military policeman and soldier to 16 years in prison for attempted espionage.
A panel of eight military members passed the sentence on Monday, after Spec. William Colton Millay pleaded guilty last month to attempted espionage and other counts.
“Millay betrayed his nation’s trust by attempting to sell classified national defense information for profit to a foreign nation,” said FBI agent Deirdre Fike.
His capture was a result of an FBI sting operation, as he attempted to sell secrets to an undercover agent who he believed was a Russian spy.
FBI agents, working with military intelligence agencies, said the American spy came to their attention in the summer of 2011 after Millay sent an email to a Russian publication and made calls to the Russian embassy.
Agents said that Millay offered to provide military secrets including confidential information about the F-22 stealth fighter jet, the Warlock Duke jamming system the military uses to sweep roadside bombs, as well as Social Security numbers of people on the military base where he worked.
“He had hate for the Army. He had hate for the United States,” said military prosecutor Capt. Stewart Hyderkhan, while arguing for at least 25 years in prison.
In addition to the prison term, Millay will be dishonorably discharged and reduced in rank to private, while forfeiting all pay and allowances.
Millay joined the Army in 2007 and served a tour of duty in Iraq from December 2009 to July 2010.
GMA/JR