Posted at 11:40 a.m., Thursday, October 27, 2005
FBI: Maui resident told investigators he sold secrets
| • | B-2 secrets case criminal complaint (PDF file, 3.3MB) |
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
Noshir S. Gowadia, a former design engineer for Northrop Grumman and the principal architect of the B-2's propulsion system, told investigators that he "disclosed classified information and material both verbally and in papers, computer presentations, letters and other methods to individuals in foreign countries with the knowledge that information was classified."
"I used examples based on my B-2...experience and knowledge," he told investigators, according to the criminal complaint. "At that time I knew it was wrong and I did it for the money."
If convicted, Gowadia faces fines and up to 10 years in jail.
The complaint was made public a day after the FBI disclosed Gowadia of Haiku was arrested on suspicion of suspicion of "willfully communicating national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it."
The FBI alleges that over the past several years, Gowadia passed along to eight foreign countries classified information on the bomber's "infrared suppression" system, which allows the aircraft to hide the heat generated from its engines from heat-seeking missiles.
According to the criminal complaint, Gowadia was rewarded for his efforts.
His company, NSG Inc., reported nearly $750,000 in gross receipts from 1999 to 2003, it said. However, Gowadia's income might be greater because "investigation reveals that he likely maintains several bank accounts, some of which are foreign and unreported," the complaint said.
