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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.