Former Army Colonel Sentenced to Two Years for Leaking Secret Battle Plans to Impress Online Date
A former Army Colonel from Florida has been handed a two-year prison sentence after he transmitted secret classified battle plans to a woman he met online, in a misguided attempt to woo her. The case underscores severe lapses in handling sensitive military information.
Details of the Security Breach
Retired combat veteran Kevin Charles Luke, aged 62, was employed as a high-level civilian contractor with top-secret clearance at the US military headquarters in Tampa during October 2024. According to court documents, he texted a photograph of plans for a Middle East attack to his new romantic interest. The image displayed a classified email on his work computer at Central Command, located at MacDill Air Force Base.
In the accompanying text, Luke wrote, "Sent to my boss earlier," adding, "Gives you a peek at what I do for a living." The email contained critical details such as the operation date, target numbers, and specific battle strategies, all marked as "SECRET
