SILVER SPRING, MD – Abraham Teklu Lemma, 50, a U.S. government contractor, faces charges related to espionage after being arrested on Aug. 24. The complaint, unsealed today, accuses Lemma, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Ethiopian descent, of delivering, conspiring to deliver, and willfully retaining national defense information to aid a foreign government.
According to the criminal complaint, Lemma engaged in unauthorized activity between Dec. 19, 2022, and Aug. 7. He is charged with copying classified information from intelligence reports and removing their classification markings. This material, designated as SECRET and TOP SECRET, was removed from secure facilities at the Department of State and pertained to a specific country and/or geographic region.
The charging documents indicate that Lemma used encrypted software to transmit classified information to a foreign government official linked to that nation’s intelligence service. In these exchanges, Lemma indicated a willingness to assist the foreign official. Communications between the two reveal that Lemma was instructed to focus on information related to specific subjects. The transmitted information included satellite imagery and details about military activities in the foreign country and region.
If convicted, the two counts of espionage against Lemma could result in a death penalty or a prison term up to life.