Allegedly, a civilian in the Air Force sent confidential data to a woman on a foreign dating site.

An Offutt Air Force Base employee in Nebraska was indicted for sending classified National Defense Information (NDI) electronically to a person they met on a foreign online dating platform in 2022.

David Franklin Slater, a 63-year-old man from Nebraska, worked in a classified space with the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base from August 2021 until April 2022.

Slater, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, held a Top Secret clearance while working at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Slater allegedly sent NDI classified as "SECRET" to an unauthorized person on a foreign online dating platform, with reason to believe the information could be used against the U.S. or to aid a foreign country, willingly, improperly, and unlawfully.

"According to allegations, Mr. Slater, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and Air Force civilian employee, intentionally transmitted confidential national defense information to another person, disregarding the security of his country and his duty to protect its secrets. The Justice Department's National Security Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, will prosecute those who willfully and knowingly endanger their country by disclosing classified information."

Slater was present at USSTRATCOM briefings regarding Russia's conflict with Ukraine and had access to confidential information classified as TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI).

Slater allegedly transmitted NDI acquired during briefings to a person he met through a foreign online dating website who claimed to be a female living in Ukraine between February 2022 and April 2022.

The indictment alleges that the co-conspirator requested Slater to transmit confidential, closely guarded, and classified information, referring to him as her "secret informant love" and her "secret agent."

Slater would send the person military targets and Russian military capabilities upon request.

On March 5 in the District of Nebraska, Slater will be in court and could face imprisonment for up to 10 years, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count if convicted of the crimes.

"Individuals with access to Top Secret information have certain responsibilities. The allegations against Mr. Slater question whether he breached those responsibilities, said U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr for the District of Nebraska. We are excited to continue our collaboration with the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to safeguard our nation."