Sailor Sentenced to 35 Years After Attempted Espionage

A sailor aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has been convicted of attempted espionage and sentenced to 35 years in prison at hard labor for attempting to sell classified information to a Soviet agent in Japan, the Navy said Wednesday.

The Navy identified the sailor as Airman Recruit James R. Wilmoth, 21, of Omaha, who was a food service worker aboard the Midway.

Wilmoth was arrested July 25 at a Navy base at Yokosuka, Japan, and was tried and convicted at a military court-martial Sept. 24. Yokosuka is the headquarters of the U.S. 7th Fleet and the Midway’s base of operations.

The motivation for the attempted sale to the Soviets was “money, greed,” said a Navy official who asked not to be identified. He would not say how much money was involved.

At least two other sailors are in custody and may face related charges, the official said, and still other suspects remain under investigation.

The Navy would not identify the other sailors involved in the investigation or describe the nature of the contacts between Wilmoth and the Soviet agent.

“There are other individuals involved,” said Lt. Greg Smith, a Navy spokesman. “However, we are not releasing any further information because the investigation is still ongoing.”

Wilmoth’s arrest followed an eight-month investigation by the Naval Investigative Service, Smith said.

In addition to attempted espionage, Wilmoth was convicted of failure to report a contact with a citizen of the Soviet Union, conspiracy to unlawfully transfer classified material and possession, use and distribution of hashish.

The Navy declined to divulge details about the information Wilmoth tried to sell to the Soviet agent but one official who requested anonymity said it was “classified but not highly classified.”

The official described the material as “normal, day-to-day traffic regarding routine fleet activities.” He said it did not include technical data or detailed operational plans.

Smith, the Navy spokesman, said Wilmoth did not have a security clearance. “The exact description of classified material is a matter still under investigation,” he said.

Wilmoth, who received a dishonorable discharge, served in the Navy for 2 1/2 years. He had been assigned to the Midway since May, 1988, Smith said.

Last month’s court-martial was convened by Vice Adm. Henry Mauz, commander of the 7th Fleet.