US contractor admits passing US top-secret information to Ethiopia in its war against rebels
Prosecutors said Abraham Teklu Lemma shared dozens of classified files, and Ethiopian officials used the intelligence in military operations.
- On Tuesday, November 3, former U.S. government IT contractor Abraham Teklu Lemma pleaded guilty to conspiring to transmit highly classified national defense information to Ethiopian officials, facing up to 22 years in prison.
- Lemma leveraged his Top Secret security clearance from roles at the State Department, Justice Department, and National Reconnaissance Office, using 'downdraft' authority to extract classified files from secure systems.
- Investigators found Lemma removed classification markings from at least 133 intelligence reports, burning them onto CDs and DVDs or recording sensitive details in handwritten notes he carried out of secure facilities.
- Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Bates scheduled sentencing for April 14, 2027, where Lemma faces a recommended prison term between 120 and 262 months under the plea agreement.
- FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky said Ethiopian officials used the stolen intelligence in military operations during a civil war that researchers estimate killed 500,000 civilians through violence and famine.
38 Articles
38 Articles
U.S. contractor admits passing U.S. top-secret information to Ethiopia in its war against rebels
A former U.S. government contractor has admitted passing classified intelligence to Ethiopia that officials used in military operations, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday.
US contractor gave Ethiopia secrets to help kill Tigray fighters
By Wycliffe MuiaNovember 4, 2026 An Ethiopian-born American citizen has pleaded guilty to passing highly classified intelligence to Ethiopia, including information he hoped would help target and kill fighters from the Tigray region during the country's 2020-22 civil war.Abraham Teklu Lemma, a former US contractor, admitted sharing dozens of classified documents and photographs with senior Ethiopian officials over more than two years, the US Depa…
The Daily Caller
thedailybs.comAmerica’s Secrets For Sale? Another Government Insider Admits To Spying
America’s Secrets For Sale? Another Government Insider Admits To Spying
A former IT specialist, Abraham Teklu Lemma, who worked under contract with American government agencies, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to spy on behalf of Ethiopia. A large part of the information provided by a 53-year-old resident of Maryland concerned the armed conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, transmitting to RIA News with reference to the U.S. Department of Justice. The agency explained that the transmission of information with the …
The Register
IT Security News - cybersecurity, infosecurity newsUS gov IT worker pleads guilty to sending Top Secret files to Ethiopia
Help desk technician agrees to minimum 10-year jail term after being caught copying files for more than 2 years
U.S. contractor pleads guilty to spying for Ethiopia – The Horn News
A former U.S. government contractor has admitted passing classified intelligence to Ethiopia that officials used in military operations, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday. Abraham Teklu Lemma, 54, supplied secrets to senior Ethiopian officials for more than two years urging them to deploy drones against fighters battling the government, according... Read More The post U.S. contractor pleads guilty to spying for Ethiopia appeared first on…
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