Married couple plead not guilty in submarine espionage case

Jonathan and Diana Toebbe were arrested last week following allegations of attempting to provide foreign governments with data concerning the nuclear powered vessels.

By Colton Salaz

Published: October 20, 2021 9:38pm

Updated: October 20, 2021 9:55pm

The married couple accused of attempting to sell highly classified data concerning nuclear powered war ships pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of violating the Atomic Energy Act.

Navy engineer Jonathan Toebbe and his wife Diana Toebbe were arrested last week following allegations of attempting to provide foreign governments with data concerning the nuclear powered vessels.

According to The Hill, prosecutors say the couple would drop SD cards containing sensitive information around key locations in West Virginia in hopes that foreign agents would retrieve them.

In December of last year Toebbe allegedly began communicating with an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a foreign government actor.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Trumble ordered the couple to remain in custody pending their trial on Dec. 14.

Attorneys representing Dianne Toebbe argued in court Wednesday that she should be released on bond, alleging that the government was only speculating that she had knowledge of her husband’s intentions.