SPY CASES - UNITED STATES

Wispelaere

 

Materials arranged chronologically.

Johnston, David. "U.S. Arrests Australian in Spy Case." New York Times, 18 May 1999. [http://www.nytimes.com]

Jean-Philippe Wispelaere, a former Australian military intelligence analyst who worked in Canberra for the Australian Defense Intelligence Organization, was charged on 17 May 1999, "with trying to sell more than 700 highly classified American defense documents to an undercover FBI agent who posed as an overseas spy.... Wispelaere was arrested on [15 May 1999] as he arrived at Dulles International Airport on a flight from London for a meeting with the undercover agent."

Suro, Roberto. "Australian Arrested on Spy Charge." Washington Post, 18 May 1999, A9. [http://www.washingtonpost.com]

Jean-Philippe Wispelaere, the former Australian intelligence official arrested on 15 May 1999 on espionage charges, "worked at the Australian Defence Intelligence Organization for only six months, but he allegedly filched more than 900 highly sensitive documents and photographs that were generated by U.S. intelligence agencies and shared with the Australian government, according to court papers filed [on 17 May 1999]."

Gertz, Bill. "FBI Sting Snags Australian Spy Attempting to Sell U.S. Secets." Washington Times National Weekly Edition, 24-30 May 1999, 20.

Washington Post. "Australian Faces More Spy Charges." 16 Jul. 1999, B2. [http://www. washingtonpost.com]

Jean-Philippe Wispelaere was indicted on 15 July 1999 by a federal grand jury in Alexandria "on a charge of espionage and a second count of attempted espionage for allegedly selling U.S. secrets to a foreign country."

Masters, Brooke A. "Espionage Suspect Found Incompetent: Australian Accused of Selling U.S. Documents, Photos." Washington Post, 20 Nov. 1999, B2. [http://www. washingtonpost.com]

Jean-Philippe Wispelaere, the former Australian intelligence analyst charged with selling U.S. secrets, "is not mentally competent to stand trial at this point, federal mental health officials have found.... Wispelaere was supposed to go on trial earlier this month ... on espionage and attempted espionage charges, but in September his behavior became increasingly erratic and bizarre, his lawyer said. [He was] sent to a federal corrections facility in Butner, N.C., for observation, and officials there concluded that he was incompetent to assist in his defense.... The doctors at Butner have asked for 120 more days to evaluate and treat Wispelaere."

Masters, Brooke A. "Australian Pleads Guilty in Spy Case." Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2001, A4. [http://www.washingtonpost.com]

On 8 March 2001, former Australian Defense Intelligence Organization official Jean-Philippe Wispelaere "pleaded guilty in federal court in Alexandria to a charge of attempted espionage and now faces at least 15 years in prison for trying to sell stolen classified U.S. documents.... The case has dragged on for nearly two years because Wispelaere suffered such a serious bout of schizophrenia that he was declared temporarily unable to stand trial."

 

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