A former Army colonel from Florida received a two-year prison sentence on Tuesday after he attempted to impress a woman he met online by sharing confidential military plans.
In court documents, it was revealed that Kevin Charles Luke, 62, was a civilian contractor with a “top secret” security clearance at U.S. military headquarters in Tampa. In October 2024, he sent a text including a photo of a battle plan related to an operation in the Middle East to his new partner.
He wrote, “I just sent it to my boss,” along with an image of the email on his work computer at Central Command located at MacDill Air Force Base. “Let’s take a peek at what I do for a living.”
The photographs he shared contained details about various aspects of the operation, including the date, number of targets, and the overall battle strategy.
The classified email was marked “SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY,” indicating that it was accessible only to authorized personnel within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which comprises the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Approximately two months later, after Luke had broken up with the woman—who remains unnamed—she reported him to the authorities, leading to a search of his home, according to his attorney, Mark O’Brien.
Luke eventually pleaded guilty to the unauthorized sharing of secret military plans but insisted he did it merely to impress women, claiming there was no intention of betrayal or profit.
Although details of the attack referenced in his email remain unclear, it was noted that it was sent shortly before Central Command carried out airstrikes against the Houthi militant group in Yemen.
U.S. District Judge James Moody expressed his concern during sentencing, stating, “This betrayal of state secrets, exposing upcoming military operations and putting personnel at risk, is deeply disturbing.”
In court on Tuesday, Luke was visibly emotional, admitting, “I stand before you accepting full responsibility for my actions. What I did was wrong. I betrayed the trust that was placed in me. I am ashamed of it, sir.”
Prosecutors sought a four-year sentence, but Moody ultimately decided on two years, considering both the severity of the crime and Luke’s military background.
“This is a difficult sentence,” Moody remarked.
O’Brien mentioned that Luke might serve less than 15 months if he displays good behavior during his incarceration. He noted that Luke acted out of a moment of poor judgment, emphasizing there’s no excuse for his actions. “It was an impulsive decision made to impress her, and the situation only came to light months later after their relationship ended,” O’Brien stated. “He deeply regrets his actions.”
