A authorities worker in Virginia was arrested on Thursday and accused of trying to share labeled data with an officer or agent of a international authorities, the Division of Justice introduced.
Nathan Laatsch, a 28-year-old IT specialist employed by the Protection Intelligence Company since 2019, was arrested after the FBI obtained a tip in March 2025 that somebody was prepared to offer labeled data to a pleasant international authorities.
Laatsch was a civilian worker within the DIA’s Insider Menace Division and held a top-secret safety clearance, in accordance with the DOJ.
An electronic mail to the FBI stated that the particular person – later recognized as Laatsch – didn’t “agree or align with the values” of the Trump administration, and can be prepared to share labeled data that he may entry, together with “accomplished intelligence merchandise, some unprocessed intelligence, and different assorted labeled documentation.”
Laatsch communicated with an FBI agent, whom he believed to be a international authorities official, a number of occasions and would verify that he was able to share labeled data that he transcribed onto a notepad at his desk, the DOJ stated. He allegedly exfiltrated the knowledge from his workspace a number of occasions over a three-day interval in preparation.
The FBI arrange an operation at a northern Virginia park the place Laatsch was to deposit labeled data “for the international authorities to retrieve,” in accordance with the DOJ. He was noticed by the FBI on or round Could 1 depositing an merchandise on the specified location.
As soon as he left, the DOJ stated FBI brokers retrieved a thumb drive from the realm discovered to include a message from Laatsch and a number of typed paperwork with data portion-marked for Secret or Prime Secret ranges.
His message allegedly indicated that he was sharing “an honest pattern measurement” of labeled data to display the varieties of issues he has entry to.
On Could 7, after Laatsch realized that the thumb drive had been retrieved, he allegedly despatched a message to the spy showing to say that he was in search of one thing in alternate for offering the knowledge.
The next day, he specified that he was fascinated about “citizenship on your nation” as a result of he didn’t anticipate issues in America “to enhance in the long run,” the DOJ stated. He additionally allegedly stated he was “not against different compensation,” however not in a spot the place he wanted “materials compensation.”
Laatsch was informed on Could 14 by the FBI agent that the “international authorities” was prepared for added labeled data.
Between Could 15 and Could 27, he transcribed extra data and started to take away it from the constructing by folding the notes and hiding them in his clothes.
On Thursday, Laatsch arrived at a prearranged location in northern Virginia to drop the knowledge off to the “international nation.” He was arrested as soon as the FBI obtained the paperwork.
His first court docket look is scheduled for Friday within the Japanese District of Virginia.
