David Sheldon Boone
Encyclopedia
David Sheldon Boone is a former U.S. Army
signals analyst who worked for the National Security Agency
and was convicted
of espionage
-related charges in 1999 related to his sale of secret documents to the Soviet Union
from 1988 to 1991. He is currently serving a prison
sentence
of 24 years and four months. Boone's case was an example of a late Cold War
U.S. government security breach
.
, Germany, in 1988. He served in Vietnam from 1971–1972 and retired from the Army, as a Sergeant First Class, in 1991.
and offered his services. According to an FBI counterintelligence agent's affidavit
, Boone was under "severe financial and personal difficulties" when he began spying. His former wife had garnished his Army sergeant's
pay, leaving him with only $250 a month.
According to the federal complaint, Boone met with his handler
about four times a year from late 1988 until June 1990, when his access to classified information was suspended because of "his lack of personal and professional responsibility
." He held a Top Secret clearance from 1971 and gained access to SCI
information in 1976. He is alleged to have received payments totaling more than $60,000 from the KGB
.
hotel after being lured from his home in Western Germany to the United States in a FBI sting operation
on October 10, 1998. He was charged with selling Top Secret classified documents
to Soviet agents 1988 to 1991, including a 600-page manual describing U.S. reconnaissance
programs and a listing of nuclear targets in Russia
.
Boone was indicted on three counts: one for conspiracy
to commit espionage and the other two related to his alleged passing of two Top Secret documents to his Soviet handler. On December 18, Boon pleaded guilty to conspiracy, and on 26 February 1999 he was sentenced to 24 years and four months in prison. Under a plea agreement Boone was also required to forfeit $52,000 and a hand-held scanner
he used to copy documents.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
signals analyst who worked for the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
and was convicted
Conviction
In law, a conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime.The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal . In Scotland and in the Netherlands, there can also be a verdict of "not proven", which counts as an acquittal...
of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
-related charges in 1999 related to his sale of secret documents to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
from 1988 to 1991. He is currently serving a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
sentence
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
of 24 years and four months. Boone's case was an example of a late Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
U.S. government security breach
United States government security breaches
This page is a timeline of published security lapses in the United States government. These lapses are frequently referenced in congressional and non-governmental oversight...
.
Early career
Boone had worked for the NSA for three years before being reassigned to AugsburgAugsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, Germany, in 1988. He served in Vietnam from 1971–1972 and retired from the Army, as a Sergeant First Class, in 1991.
Turn to espionage
In October 1988, the same month that he separated from his wife and children, Boone walked into the Soviet embassy in Washington, D.C.Soviet–United States relations
The relations between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics succeed the relations between the Russian Empire and the United States and predate the post-Soviet Russo-United States relations . Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established late due to...
and offered his services. According to an FBI counterintelligence agent's affidavit
Affidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
, Boone was under "severe financial and personal difficulties" when he began spying. His former wife had garnished his Army sergeant's
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
pay, leaving him with only $250 a month.
According to the federal complaint, Boone met with his handler
Agent handling
In intelligence organizations, agent handling is the management of agents, principal agents, and agent networks by intelligence officers typically known as case officers.-Human intelligence:...
about four times a year from late 1988 until June 1990, when his access to classified information was suspended because of "his lack of personal and professional responsibility
Professional responsibility
Professional responsibility is the area of legal practice that encompasses the duties of attorneys to act in a professional manner, obey the law, avoid conflicts of interest, and put the interests of clients ahead of their own interests....
." He held a Top Secret clearance from 1971 and gained access to SCI
Classified information in the United States
The United States government classification system is currently established under Executive Order 13526, the latest in a long series of executive orders on the topic. Issued by President Barack Obama in 2009, Executive Order 13526 replaced earlier executive orders on the topic and modified the...
information in 1976. He is alleged to have received payments totaling more than $60,000 from the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
.
Arrest and indictment
Boone was arrested at a suburban VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
hotel after being lured from his home in Western Germany to the United States in a FBI sting operation
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
on October 10, 1998. He was charged with selling Top Secret classified documents
Classified information in the United States
The United States government classification system is currently established under Executive Order 13526, the latest in a long series of executive orders on the topic. Issued by President Barack Obama in 2009, Executive Order 13526 replaced earlier executive orders on the topic and modified the...
to Soviet agents 1988 to 1991, including a 600-page manual describing U.S. reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
programs and a listing of nuclear targets in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Boone was indicted on three counts: one for conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to commit espionage and the other two related to his alleged passing of two Top Secret documents to his Soviet handler. On December 18, Boon pleaded guilty to conspiracy, and on 26 February 1999 he was sentenced to 24 years and four months in prison. Under a plea agreement Boone was also required to forfeit $52,000 and a hand-held scanner
Image scanner
In computing, an image scanner—often abbreviated to just scanner—is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image. Common examples found in offices are variations of the desktop scanner where the document is placed on a glass...
he used to copy documents.