A 34-year-old former Central Intelligence Agency analyst from Vienna has received a prison sentence of just over three years for illegally keeping and sharing classified national defense materials with unauthorized individuals while attempting to hide his actions.
Asif William Rahman was sentenced to 37 months behind bars for stealing and revealing secret government information. Rahman had worked for the CIA since 2016 and possessed Top Secret clearance for accessing highly sensitive compartmented intelligence until his employment ended following his arrest in Cambodia last November.
In January, Rahman admitted guilt to two charges involving the deliberate retention and distribution of classified defense-related information.
According to reports, Rahman unlawfully kept multiple Secret and Top Secret documents on October 17, 2024, brought them home in a backpack, and intentionally transmitted them to several people lacking proper security clearance.
Court filings reveal that "Rahman photographed these documents and uploaded the images to computer software that enabled him to modify them in an attempt to hide their origin and erase evidence of his actions. He also took measures to mask his identity while illegally distributing classified materials."
The leaked documents included details about Israel's planned military operations against Iran during that period. These materials later appeared online after being published on Telegram by an account named Middle East Spectator.
To conceal his misconduct, Rahman conducted what prosecutors called a systematic "deletion campaign," removing approximately 1.5 gigabytes of data from his email and personal computer files. He also altered and erased journal entries to hide his personal views on American foreign policy.
"Rahman betrayed his position of trust by unlawfully accessing, removing, and transmitting Top Secret documents critical to U.S. and allied national security," stated Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for Virginia's Eastern District.
"The speed with which Rahman was identified, apprehended, charged, and prosecuted demonstrates the dedication and expertise of our investigators and prosecutors. This case serves as a strong deterrent to anyone who would prioritize personal interests over loyalty to our country.
