Y-12 Violators Walli, Rice, and Boertje-Obed Charged with Additional Count of Injuring National-Defense Premises

KNOXVILLE—On December 4, 2012, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, returned a three-count superseding indictment against Michael Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed, adding an additional count of injuring national-defense premises.

Previously, in August 2012, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a three-count indictment against Walli, Rice, and Boertje-Obed for destroying property within the Y-12 National Security Complex, depredation against property of the United States in an amount exceeding $1,000, and trespassing onto U.S. Department of Energy property. Trial had been set for February 26, 2013, in U.S. District Court in Knoxville, but may be rescheduled as a result of the superseding indictment.

The additional count of the superseding indictment alleges that on or about July 28, 2012, Walli, Rice, and Boertje-Obed, aiding and abetting each other, with intent to injure, interfere with, and obstruct the national defense of the United States, did willfully injure, destroy and contaminate, and attempt to injure, destroy and contaminate national-defense premises, specifically, buildings and grounds of the Y-12 National Security Complex. The remaining counts of the superseding indictment are the previously charged counts for destroying property within the Y-12 National Security Complex and depredation against property of the United States in an amount exceeding $1,000. The previously charged count of trespassing has not been charged in the superseding indictment.

The new count of injuring national-defense premises carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Destroying property within the Y-12 National Security Complex carries a maximum prison term of five years. Depredation against property of the United States in an amount exceeding $1,000 carries a maximum prison term of 10 years. The maximum fine is $250,000 per count.

These additional charges are the result of an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey E. Theodore and Melissa M. Kirby are representing the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.