20-Year Term for Sailor in Code Theft

A Navy man convicted of conspiring to sell classified Navy code cards stolen from the tank landing ship Peoria was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Earl Gilliam told Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Tobias, 22, of Chula Vista: “It is true that you have to be made an example of. You were the leader.”

Assistant U.S. Atty. Joan Weber said it was “very unsettling” that Tobias and co-defendant Francis Pizzo II were in the area near the Soviet Embassy in San Francisco after the cards were stolen and before their arrest by the FBI.

The plot was uncovered after they tried to sell the cards to the Secret Service after saying they had offered them to a foreign power.

Tobias was convicted Aug. 14 of seven counts of conspiracy to obtain defense information, conspiracy to disclose classified information, conspiracy to sell stolen government property, conspiracy to disclose stolen property and theft of government property. He could have received 55 years in prison and a $70,000 fine.

Pizzo, 19, of Chula Vista was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Gilliam on Oct. 7. Pizzo pleaded guilty to five similar charges.

Co-defendant Dale Irene, 25, of San Diego, received a two-year term, and Tobias’ brother, Bruce, 19, was put on probation.