Hawaii man sentenced 32 years for providing China with U.S. defense information

[News_Editor]

Hawaii man sentenced 32 years for providing China with U.S. defense information

2011-01-26 10:46:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- A former B-2 bomber engineer from Hawaii was sentenced to 32 years in prison for providing classified national defense information and services to the People's Republic of China, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Noshir S. Gowadia, 66, of Maui, Hawaii, who was also sentenced for illegally exporting military technical data, money laundering, filing false tax returns and other offenses, was first arrested in October 2005 on a criminal complaint alleging that he willfully communicated national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it.

According to the trial, Gowadia was an engineer with Northrop Grumman Corporation from approximately 1968 to 1986, during which time he contributed to the development of the unique propulsion system and low observable capabilities of the B-2 Spirit bomber, sometimes referred to as the "Stealth" bomber.  

Gowadia also continued to work on classified matters as a contractor with the with the U.S. government until 1997, when his security clearance was terminated.

The four-month trial also revealed that from July 2003 to June 2005, Gowadia took six trips to China to provide defense services in the form of design, test support and test data analysis of technologies for the purpose of assisting the Asian country with a cruise missile system by developing a stealthy exhaust nozzle.  

At the time of his arrest, Gowadia had been paid at least $110,000 by China.

In addition, the prosecution also produced evidence that documented Gowadia's use of three foreign entities he established and controlled, including a Liechtenstein charity purportedly for the benefit of children, to hide, launder and disguise the income he received from foreign countries.  

Gowadia admitted on cross examination at trial that he never donated money to any charity using the foundation, despite repeatedly representing that he did to the IRS and others.  

Furthermore, the evidence at trial revealed that Gowadia had not paid any income tax since from at least 1997 until 2005 when he was arrested. With the funds, it was revealed that he built a luxurious ocean side home located on a cliff in Maui, Hawaii.

"While the full damage of his activities may never be known, we are comforted that justice has been done, and that Mr. Gowadia will spend 32 years in federal prison, incapable of betraying the United States of America again," said Florence T. Nakakuni, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii.

The B-2 bomber is one of America's most critical defense assets, capable of utilizing its stealth characteristics to penetrate enemy airspace and deliver precision guided weapons on multiple targets.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-26

[ukrules]

32 years, that's a long time. Normally you need to be a serial killer who is evil beyond belief to get that kind of prison sentence.

This reminds me of sentences in medieval times whereby people would be hanged for stealing a carrot at the local market.

[Ulysses G.]

He is traitor and received a very lenient sentence for what he did.

[tw25rw]

He would have become very wealthy if he'd got away with it. The punishment has to outweigh the incentive.

[Jingthing]

He did better than the Rosenbergs.

Probably the Chinese would today execute an equivalent spy as Hawaii guy, yes?

Edited January 26, 2011 by Jingthing

[tw25rw]

He'll spend his time in solitary in a supermax prison as well.. I think I would choose that over cohabiting with the general prison population.

[Tinkelbell]

What ? Only 32 years in prison. The guy got away too easy consider the damage he had done to the US's defense.

I hope some guys in there taking care this scrum traitor as much as he deserves.

[tw25rw]

I doubt anyone will get near him while his knowledge is of use to a foreign power.. He'll be 23 hours a day in a solitary cell with concrete furniture and only bible TV.