US Sailor Charged With Taking Illegal Photos Of Nuclear Sub

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July 25, 2015 Royce Christyn News, US 0
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030221-N-0780F-020 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (Feb. 21, 2003) -- Los Angeles class submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) arrives for a port visit and prepares to be berthed next to submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39). San Juan is home-based in Groton, Conn. and the tender is home-based in La Maddalena, Italy. U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley. (RELEASED)
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Prosecutors say a federal grand jury in Connecticut found a sailor from Vermont who was a machinist in the U.S. Navy on a nuclear submarine has been indicted for taking illegal photos of secure areas of the submarine.

According to Reuters via BI [1]:

Kristian Saucier, 28, of Arlington, Vermont, was charged with taking photos of classified spaces, instruments and equipment inside the U.S.S. Alexandria, where he was stationed, as well as covering up his actions when authorities attempted to investigate, said Deirdre Daly, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.

From September 2007 to March 2012, Saucier served as a machinist’s mate aboard the Alexandria, a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine based at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

On at least three separate dates in 2009, Saucier used the camera on his personal cellphone to take photographs of classified areas of the submarine, Daly said.

After Saucier was interviewed by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in July 2012, he attempted to destroy his laptop, camera and camera memory card in a bid to destroy evidence of his actions, according to court papers.

The indictment charges Saucier with one count of unauthorized retention of defense information, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000, and one count of obstruction of justice, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Saucier is currently enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Petty Officer First Class assigned to the Naval Support Activity Base, Saratoga Springs, New York.

He was arrested on May 28 and is free on $100,000 bond.

Saucier could not be reached for immediate comment.

Source:

[1]  http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-sailor-charged-for-taking-photos-inside-nuclear-submarine-2015-7

Royce Christyn

Royce Christyn

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