A Virginia man appeared in federal court on Thursday on charges of espionage for transmitting Top Secret and Secret documents to an agent of the People's Republic of China.
Federal officials believe that Kevin Patrick Mallory, of Leesburg, Va., traveled to Shanghai in March and April of 2017, a Department of Justice press release said. There, he met with an individual he believed worked for the Chinese government.
Mallory is a citizen, a self-employed consultant with GlobalEx LLC, and speaks fluent Chinese. He has held numerous positions with various government agencies and defense contractors. He had Top Secret clearance during that time, although it was terminated in October 2012.
"Kevin Mallory was previously entrusted with Top Secret clearance and therefore had access to classified information, which he allegedly shared and planned to continue sharing with representatives of a foreign government," said Andrew W. Vale, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington field office.
"Furthermore, he allegedly misled investigators in a voluntary interview about sharing of this classified information. The FBI will continue to investigate those individuals who put our national security at risk through unauthorized disclosures of information," Vale said.
During a voluntary interview with the FBI, Mallory said that his Chinese contact identified himself as an affiliate of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), a Chinese think tank. The FBI has determined that Chinese Intelligence officers have used SASS for cover identities.
Analysis of a device that Mallory used to communicate with his Chinese contact revealed classified information transmitted to the Chinese. That included a handwritten index of eight documents, and four of those documents themselves. One of the documents was classified Top Secret, while another two were classified as Secret.
"The conduct alleged in this complaint is serious, and these charges should send a message to anyone who would consider violating the public’s trust and compromising our national security by disclosing classified information," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana Boente.
Mallory was charged with gathering or delivering defense information to aid a foreign government, and making material false statements. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.