Accusations of Providing Classified Information to a Foreign Government
A Navy sailor, Bryce Pedicini, stationed in Japan, has been charged with espionage by the U.S. military. The allegations state that Pedicini provided classified documents to an employee of a foreign government multiple times between November 2022 and February 2023 in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Additionally, in May 2023, he attempted to pass photographs showing the screen of a computer connected to the military’s classified network in Yokosuka, Japan.
Allegations and Investigations
The charge sheet specifies that Pedicini provided the information “with reason to believe that it would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation,” related to national defense. The exact nature of the documents shared and the recipient country remain undisclosed. Pedicini also faces accusations of failing to report a foreign contact and soliciting classified information from an unauthorized individual.
Naval Confirmation and Background
The U.S. Navy has confirmed that the sailor, assigned to the USS Higgins destroyer based in Japan, is being investigated for mishandling classified documents. Commander Arlo Abrahamson of the U.S. Naval Surface Force stated that legal proceedings are ongoing. Pedicini enlisted in 2009, served on various destroyers, and was promoted to chief in 2022.
