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DIA Insider Threat Specialist Arrested After Attempting to Transmit Top-Secret Documents

Nathan Vilas Laatsch is set for an initial court appearance on May 30 after federal agents intercepted his second classified data drop in northern Virginia.

The J. Edgar Hoover Building, headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is seen in Washington, D.C., May 29, 2025.
The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a press conference with Attorney General Pam Bondi, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Justice Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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Overview

  • Nathan Vilas Laatsch, a 28-year-old IT specialist in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division, held a Top Secret clearance since 2019.
  • A tip in March prompted the FBI to launch an investigation when Laatsch offered to share national defense information with what he believed was an allied government.
  • On May 1, he deposited a thumb drive in a Northern Virginia park containing multiple files portion-marked Secret and Top Secret.
  • Communications with undercover agents reveal he disagreed with U.S. administration values and sought foreign citizenship in exchange for classified intelligence.
  • The FBI Washington Field Office led the May 29 operation with support from the DOJ and Air Force OSI, halting a second drop and effecting his arrest.