Maryland Couple Confesses Selling Data of US Submarine Nuclear Reactors to Brazil [REPORT]

By Rick Martin Sep 27 2022, 20:49 PM EDT

A Maryland couple has pleaded guilty after trying to sell top secret information about Virginia-class nuclear submarine's nuclear reactor to a foreign country, which was later identified as Brazil.

The couple in question, Jonathan and Diana Toebbe, seems like a typical suburban couple from Annapolis, Maryland. However, the Toebbes may have committed espionage.

This is the second time the couple pleaded guilty to their crime, as a judge threw out their previous plea agreements last month because their sentences were too low. According to the Baltimore Sun, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Trumble stated that the lower sentences for both suspects were "not in the best interest" of the country and therefore threw out the plea agreement.

As for the country they tried to send the information to, it was not identified in court papers. However, a source familiar with the case told ABC News that it was Brazil.

Toebbes Captured After Mistaking Undercover FBI Agent for Foreign Representative

Meanwhile, Jonathan Toebbe admitted to sending a package to a foreign government. It contained a sample of restricted data, as well as instructions to buy additional restricted data.

Court documents revealed that Jonathan was corresponding to a person he believed to be a representative of a foreign government. However, it turned out he was transacting with an undercover FBI agent. That agent initially sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Jonathan as a "good faith" payment in June 2021.

The communication between the FBI agents acting undercover and the Toebbes lasted for over a year. This culminated in the couple traveling to West Virginia to do a Dead Drop by placing an SD Card with information about the submarine's nuclear reactor inside a sandwich and leaving it for the FBI agents to pick up.

After receiving an additional $20,000 in cryptocurrency from the undercover FBI agents, Jonathan Toebbe sent them a decryption key for the SD card. Upon inspection, the FBI agents found restricted information about Virginia-class submarines inside.

The couple was then arrested last October, with both pleading guilty to their crimes.

Who Are the Toebbes and Why Did They Have Access to Nuclear Information?

Diana Toebbe, 46, was a private school teacher in Maryland. However, she will forever be remembered as a spy who tried to sell secrets to Brazil when she was arrested with her husband, Jonathan Toebbe, 43.

According to NPR, Jonathan was a former U.S. Navy engineer who had access to top-secret government information. He repeatedly sold details about the design elements and performance characteristics of Virginia-class submarines to foreign agents. Upon his arrest, the government managed to recover classified documents from him.

When the FBI raided their Maryland home, they found a trash bag of shredded documents, thousands of dollars in cash, and valid children's passports. They also found a "go-bag" containing a USB flash drive and latex gloves.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Diana Toebbe Changes Plea To Guilty In Espionage Case - WJZ