Mon, Jul 06, 2009
Chinese, Iranian Students Allowed To See Sensitive Data
71-year-old John Reese Roth has
been sentenced to four years in federal prison for allowing Chinese
grad students to see sensitive information on UAV's while working
on a research project. The prominent plasma physicist was charged
with 18 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy, and violations of the
Arms Export Control Act.
Scientific American reports Roth helped found "Atmospheric Glow
Technologies" after retiring from the University of Tennessee. The
company primarily conducts research into using RF technology to
create plasma gas used for sterilization of medical instruments and
other applications. But it also had a contract with the Air Force
for the development of plasma actuators that could reduce drag on
UAV's. Under the contract, Roth was prohibited from sharing that
information with foreign nationals.
The indictment charged that Roth defied that contract and
carried his laptop containing the sensitive information with him on
a lecture tour in China. He also allowed Chinese and Iranian
nationals to work with him on the project.
During his trial, Roth claimed he didn't think hiring the
graduate students to help him with the research violated his
contract. Otherwise, he testified, he would not have agreed to
participate in the research. His attorney had filed notice of
appeal.
File Photo
“The illegal export of restricted military data represents
a serious threat to national security,” David Kris of the
U.S. Department of Justice, said in a statement, “We know
that foreign governments are actively seeking this information for
their own military development. Today’s sentence should serve
as a warning to anyone who knowingly discloses restricted military
data in violation of our laws.”
More News
Aero Linx: International Flying Farmers IFF is a not-for-profit organization started in 1944 by farmers who were also private pilots. We have members all across the United States a>[...]
From 2017 (YouTube Version): Remembrances Of An Israeli Air Force Test Pilot Early in 2016, ANN contributor Maxine Scheer traveled to Israel, where she had the opportunity to sit d>[...]
"We renegotiated what our debt restructuring is on a lot of our debts, mostly with the family. Those debts are going to be converted into equity..." Source: Excerpts from a short v>[...]
Also: B-29 Superfortress Reunion, FAA Wants Controllers, Spirit Airlines Pulls Back, Gogo Galileo Van's Aircraft posted a short video recapping the goings-on around their reorganiz>[...]
Chart Supplement US A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts which contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open to >[...]