Thomas Patrick Cavanagh

Thomas Patrick Cavanagh is an aerospace engineer who was sentenced in 1985 after being convicted of trying to sell stealth bomber secrets to the Soviet Union.

Thomas Patrick Cavanagh
Born1945 (age 78–79)
OccupationAerospace engineer
Criminal chargeEspionage
PenaltyLife imprisonment

Biography

edit

Cavanagh was arrested at a hotel in Commerce, California, in December 1984, by FBI agents posing as Soviet spies. Cavanagh worked at Northrop, and at the time was undergoing a divorce, and was heavily in debt. He tried to sell classified technology and information for $25,000, equivalent to $73,000 in 2023.

He was sentenced to life in prison.[1][2] He was released on parole on March 1, 2001.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Engineer in Stealth Secrets Case Given Life Term". The New York Times. 25 May 1985.
  2. ^ "Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage : He Tried to Sell 'Stealth' Bomber Secrets to Undercover Agents - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 15 March 1985.
  3. ^ "Thomas Patrick Cavanaugh". Locate a Federal Inmate. Federal Bureau of Prisons.