Washington, D.C. — John Murray Rowe Jr., a former defense contractor hailing from Lead, South Dakota, has received a sentence of 126 months (10.5 years) in federal prison for his attempt to transmit classified national defense information to a foreign government, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday. Alongside his prison sentence, Rowe will also undergo three years of supervised release and is required to pay a fine of $25,000.
At the age of 67, Rowe entered a guilty plea in April 2024 to one charge of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, along with three charges of willful communication of national defense information. These charges arose from his attempts to share sensitive U.S. military secrets with an individual he believed to be a Russian government agent — who was actually an undercover FBI agent.
A Decades-Long Career Turned Espionage Threat
Rowe had dedicated nearly 40 years of his career as a test engineer for various defense contractors. Throughout this time, he obtained several high-level security clearances — including TOP SECRET//SCI — granting him access to vital U.S. Air Force electronic warfare systems.
Despite holding such a trusted role, Rowe turned into a security liability. Court documents reveal that after being flagged for alarming behavior and remarks concerning Russia, he was recognized as a potential insider threat and subsequently dismissed from his job.
In March 2020, Rowe reached out to an undercover FBI agent, whom he mistakenly believed to be a representative of the Russian government. During their initial meeting, Rowe candidly expressed his disloyalty to the U.S. and his intention to aid Russia. He then revealed classified information about U.S. Air Force electronic countermeasure systems utilized in fighter jets.
Over the following eight months, Rowe exchanged more than 300 emails with the undercover agent, continuing to share sensitive defense information and reaffirming his willingness to assist a foreign adversary. In one message, Rowe wrote, “If I can’t get a job [in the United States], then I’ll go work for the other team.”
A second in-person meeting in September 2020 resulted in further classified disclosures. Even after his arrest in December 2021, Rowe continued to discuss the same classified information in recorded jail calls to relatives and associates.
National Security Officials Condemn Rowe’s Actions
Senior national security officials condemned Rowe’s betrayal of trust.
“The defendant spent decades working on sensitive U.S. defense programs and was entrusted with safeguarding classified military technology,” said Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg. “Instead of honoring that trust, he willfully attempted to disclose that information to what he thought was a foreign agent. The Justice Department will hold accountable those who disregard country and conscience.”
“Despite his experience and training, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “His repeated, willful efforts to harm the U.S. are inexcusable.”
“By attempting to disclose classified information on U.S. Air Force systems to the Russian government, John Rowe endangered American lives and compromised U.S. national security,” added FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky. “Let this sentencing serve as a clear warning: the FBI will pursue justice against anyone who threatens the safety of our nation.”
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