For ads-free news, click here.
From Fox 5 DC: An electrical engineer with the Department of Defense was in federal court Tuesday, accused of taking top secret documents and attempting to leave the country with them, according to prosecutors.
Court documents detail how 50-year-old Gokhan Gun — a resident of Falls Church who was born in Turkey and holds dual citizenship — was arrested on Friday, Aug. 9, and charged with unauthorized removal and retention of classified material.
On the morning of Aug. 9 when Gun was scheduled to fly to Puerto Vallarta, FBI agents executed a search warrant on him and two of his homes. Court documents say the agents found the documents, labeled as “TOP SECRET,” sitting in a backpack in front of Gun’s home.
Inside the home, agents also saw stacks of papers containing multiple documents with visible classification markings, including some labeled Top Secret and SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) classification markings.
When questioned by investigators, Gun reportedly told them he was going to Mexico for a “fishing trip.”
And, according to a CBS News report, a judge ruled Tuesday over prosecutors’ objections that Gun can remain free on home detention while he awaits trial on accusations he mishandled classified documents. (Scroll down for more from CBS.)
Below are jaw-dropping details outlined in a Justice Department press release on Tuesday:
A civilian electrical engineer for the Department of Defense appeared in federal court today on a charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material.
According to court documents, Gokhan Gun, 50, of Falls Church, Virginia, was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and is a dual citizen of Turkey and the United States. Through his employment, Gun possesses a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and has received training on the proper handling and storage of classified information.
On multiple occasions beginning at least in May 2024, Gun allegedly printed documents, some of which were marked Top Secret, and without permission removed them from his authorized work location. Between May 10 and Aug. 7, Gun allegedly printed over a dozen documents marked classified at the time of printing. In August, investigators observed Gun exiting his workplace with a bag full of hard copy documents before entering two different residences in Fairfax and Falls Church, both owned by Gun.
On Aug. 9, Gun was scheduled to depart the United States on a morning flight to Mexico. However, FBI agents executed search warrants for Gun’s Fairfax and Falls Church residences, along with his vehicle, and media storage devices. Among the items recovered from the searches were a Top Secret document and a printout listing Gun’s security clearances—both of which were recovered from Gun’s backpack. Inside the residence, agents also observed stacks of papers among which were multiple documents with visible classification markings, including pages bearing Top Secret and SCI classification markings.
Packed for travel in a small personal belt bag, Gun allegedly had his U.S. passport and an expired passport from Turkey.
If convicted of the current charge, Gun faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
WATCH the news report below:
Gun gets a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card!
CBS News reported:
A judge ruled Tuesday over prosecutors’ objections that a Defense Department civilian employee who is a U.S.-Turkish dual citizen can remain free on home detention while he awaits trial on accusations he mishandled classified documents.
At a detention hearing Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, prosecutors asked that Gun remain jailed while awaiting trial. They said they may bring additional charges, including possible charges under the Espionage Act, if the ongoing investigation can prove that he not only mishandled classified documents but sought to disseminate documents relevant to the national defense to a foreign power.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Rodregous said the fact that Gun was arrested carrying classified documents, as well as his intelligence-community credentials, on the way to the airport for a purported Mexican fishing trip was circumstantial evidence of his intent to distribute the documents.
“You don’t need your intelligence-community credentials to go fishing,” Rodregous said.
But U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan Davis said it was “too far of a leap” to assume that his trip to Mexico was connected to his mishandling of documents. He said until the government provides stronger evidence, the case is no different than any other classified-documents case and the presumption is that Gun should be free while he awaits trial.
A judge ruled over prosecutors’ objections that a Defense Department civilian employee who is a U.S.-Turkish dual citizen can remain free on home detention while he awaits trial on accusations he mishandled classified documents. https://t.co/oLND2EDuQ0
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 14, 2024
An electrical engineer with the Department of Defense was in federal court Tuesday, accused of taking top secret documents and attempting to leave the country with them, according to prosecutors. https://t.co/vtMdS6ErRR
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) August 14, 2024
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
