Jack Teixeira, a 22-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on November 12 for one of the most consequential national security breaches in recent history.
The Federal District Court in Massachusetts heard how Mr Teixeira, an information technology specialist at a Cape Cod air base, shared sensitive government documents on Discord, an online platform popular with gamers.
The leaked materials, which included intelligence on military operations and international relations, caused widespread concern.
Among the details Mr Teixeira disclosed were plans for supplying equipment to Ukraine and sensitive information on troop movements during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
U.S. officials warned that the leaks jeopardised intelligence-gathering methods and put American and allied operations at risk.
Mr Teixeira’s actions were discovered after a friend informed him that some documents were circulating on a pro-Russian Telegram channel.
The young airman attempted to have the material removed, but by then, the damage had been done.
During sentencing, Judge Indira Talwani of the Federal District Court in Massachusetts addressed Mr Teixeira directly, stressing the seriousness of his crimes.
“You are young, and you have a future ahead of you, but this is such a serious offence,” she stated.
Prosecutor Jared Dolan argued for a prison term of nearly 17 years, describing the scope of the leak as “historic” and “unparalleled.”
In contrast, Mr Teixeira’s lawyer, Michael Bachrach, requested a sentence closer to 11 years, citing his client’s youth and autism, which he suggested contributed to the poor judgment that led to the breach.
In a tearful statement, Teixeira apologized for the wide-ranging leak. “I’m sorry for all the harm that I’ve wrought and that I’ve caused,” he said. “I understand all the responsibility and consequences fall on my shoulders alone. And I accept whatever that may bring.”
As he left the courtroom, Mr Teixeira nodded to his family and said, “See you later.”
