Three Individuals Convicted of Sabotage at the Y-12 National Security Complex Sentenced

KNOXVILLE, TN—On February 18, 2014, Michael Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed were sentenced in U.S. District Court by the Honorable Thapar, U.S. District Judge. Sister Megan Rice was sentenced to serve 35 months in prison. Walli and Boertje-Obed were each sentenced to serve 62 months in prison. All three will serve three years’ supervised release upon their release from prison. Additionally, these individuals were ordered to pay $52,953 in restitution to the Department of Energy.

These individuals were convicted in May 2013 of one count of injuring national defense premises, that is, the Y-12 National Security Complex, with the intent to interfere with the national defense of the United States and another count of depredation against property of the United States.

On July 28, 2012, in the middle of the night, the Walli, Rice, and Boertje-Obed unlawfully intruded upon the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. They used bolt cutters and cut through three highly sensitive security fences and made their way to the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF), which houses weapons-grade uranium. They splashed human blood and painted slogans on the exterior wall of the HEUMF.

Agencies participating in the investigation of these charges, which resulted in today’s sentences, included the U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Theodore represented the United States.

U.S. Attorney William C. Killian commended the sentences and said he hoped it would send a strong message. “The Y-12 National Security Complex plays a critical role in our country’s national defense. People cannot take the law into their own hands and unlawfully intrude upon sensitive government facilities. Those who violate the law and compromise the security of the Y-12 National Security Complex will be vigorously prosecuted.”