U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Kellogg III was
sentenced last Friday at a general court-martial to three years of confinement
after pleading guilty to charges related to the illegal communication of
national defense information. Kellogg will receive a dishonorable discharge
from the Navy and a reduction in rank from E-5 to E-1.
From May to September 2018, Kellogg, 26, served aboard the
nuclear-powered warship USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) as a Nuclear Electrician’s
Mate (EMN2). In this position, Kellogg had access to classified national
defense information relating to the capabilities, operations, and maintenance
of Navy nuclear propulsion systems.
According to a pretrial agreement, Kellogg admitted that
while on active duty on August 27, 2018, he attempted to board a commercial
airline from San Diego, California, to New York City with the intention of
providing classified information regarding the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered warships
to a journalist whom he thought would release the information to the public.
Kellogg separately admitted to, in July and August 2018,
telling his roommate that he was planning to defect to Russia. During this
time-period, Kellogg searched the Internet for information relating to flights
to Moscow, contact information for the Russian Consulate in San Diego, and
contact information for Sevmash, a Russian shipbuilding enterprise. He wrote to
an email address associated with Sevmash stating, “I am willing.”
Furthermore, Kellogg admitted that, in May and August 2018,
he photographed controlled spaces containing sensitive Navy Nuclear Propulsion
Program information aboard the USS Vinson. He then communicated those photos to
his father and ex-girlfriend, neither of whom possess a security clearance nor
have a need to know about classified Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program
information.
Kellogg also admitted that during June 2018 to August 2018,
he failed to obey a lawful general order by wrongfully storing classified
information in his berthing.
“The FBI is committed to protecting the nation’s critical
assets, advanced technologies and sensitive information in the defense sector
against all counterintelligence threats.” said Acting FBI Special Agent in
Charge Suzanne Turner. “As demonstrated by this case, the FBI works closely
with NCIS to investigate and prosecute those military members who intentionally
risk our national security and violate the oath they took to protect our
nation.”
“This sailor’s attempts to disclose classified Navy nuclear
propulsion information posed a significant threat to national security and
endangered the lives of American service members,” said Special Agent in Charge
Garrett Waugh of the Southwest Field Office. “NCIS will continue to prioritize
counterintelligence efforts as well as investigate and disrupt espionage
activity directed at the Navy and Marine Corps.”
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation - San Diego Division and the Naval Criminal
Investigative Service - Southwest Field Office. Investigators were also
assisted by the San Diego Harbor Police Department. The case was prosecuted by
Cmdr. Chris Czaplak, U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Senior Trial
Counsel, Region Legal Service Office Southwest, Naval Base San Diego.
DEFENDANT
Stephen Kellogg III, Age: 26
Charge 1: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 – Title 18,
United States Code, §793(d). Statutory maximum: Offense not capital
Charge 2: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 – Title 18,
United States Code, §793(d). Statutory maximum: Offense not capital
Charge 3: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 92 – Failure to
Obey a Lawful General Order
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
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