PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) - A Navy sailor stationed in Virginia pleaded guilty Tuesday to giving a Russian national classified information.
Chief Petty Officer Charles T. Briggs also pleaded guilty to making false official statements three times, The Virginian-Pilot reported.
Briggs’ rank was reduced to E-4 and he was sentenced to 18 months and an additional 13 months for the second conviction. The sentences will be served consecutively.
Briggs was accused of acquiring classified information while he was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska from 2018 to early 2019.
Navy officials said he later passed that information on to a Russian national knowing it would be harmful to the United States.
Briggs was also accused of lying about his connections to the Russian national and an Italian citizen. Officials said he also lied about a trip he made to Serbia.
Description of the classified information and details on Briggs’ connection to either person weren’t immediately released.
Briggs worked in information and technology at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
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