US IT Specialist: Classified Info Sharing Arrested | DOJ
- A Defense intelligence Agency (DIA) employee in Virginia, Nathan Laatsch, 28, was arrested Thursday on charges related to espionage.
- The FBI initiated an investigation in March 2025 after receiving a tip that Laatsch was willing to share sensitive information.
- An IT specialist in northern Virginia is behind bars after an FBI agent caught him sharing classified information with who he believed was a foreign...
A Defense Intelligence Agency IT specialist, Nathan Laatsch, has been arrested on espionage charges after attempting to share classified facts. The FBI’s sting operation revealed Laatsch’s intent to hand over sensitive data to a foreign government, offering a glimpse into a serious breach of national security and potential motives. laatsch, who worked in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division, allegedly sought citizenship and other compensation in exchange for the classified documents. News Directory 3 keeps you informed on these critical developments. discover what’s next as the investigation continues.
Defense Intelligence Employee Arrested for Espionage Attempt
Updated May 30, 2025
A Defense intelligence Agency (DIA) employee in Virginia, Nathan Laatsch, 28, was arrested Thursday on charges related to
espionage. Laatsch, an IT specialist with a top-secret security clearance, allegedly attempted to provide classified
information to someone he believed was a foreign government agent, according to the Department of Justice.
The FBI initiated an investigation in March 2025 after receiving a tip that Laatsch was willing to share sensitive
information. The tip indicated that Laatsch, who worked in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division, disagreed with the values
of the Trump governance and was prepared to share classified intelligence products and documentation.
An IT specialist in northern Virginia is behind bars after an FBI agent caught him sharing classified
information with who he believed was a foreign government official. (Istock)
Over several weeks, Laatsch communicated with an undercover FBI agent, believing the agent represented a foreign government.He allegedly transcribed classified information onto a notepad at his desk and smuggled it out of the building in planning
for delivery.
The FBI set up a sting operation at a park in northern Virginia. Laatsch was observed depositing a thumb drive at the
designated location. The thumb drive contained a message from Laatsch and multiple documents marked as Secret or Top Secret.
The message indicated he was providing a sample of the classified information he could access.
The Department of Justice said Nathan Laatsch, 28, was arrested after he attempted to share classified
information with a foreign government because he allegedly did not “agree or align” with the Trump admin’s
values. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
After learning the thumb drive had been retrieved, Laatsch allegedly sought compensation for providing the classified
information. He expressed interest in obtaining citizenship in the foreign country, citing concerns about the future of
the United States. He also indicated he was open to other forms of compensation.
The FBI agent informed Laatsch that the “foreign government” was ready for more classified information. Laatsch then
transcribed additional information and concealed the notes on his person to remove them from the DIA building.