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US man suspected of trying to spy for Israel

Akamai Tech employee tells undercover FBI agent he is Jewish American who wants to 'help homeland'

An Akamai Technologies Inc employee was charged with trying to give confidential company information to an undercover FBI agent he thought worked for a foreign country, probably Israel, US prosecutors said on Wednesday.

 

Elliot Doxer, 42, worked in Akamai's finance department in Massachusetts and was charged with one count of wire fraud for providing customers lists, contract details and employee information. He sought $3,000 in return, prosecutors said.

 

In June 2006, Doxer e-mailed a foreign country's consulate in Boston with his offer to help. Court papers indicated the country was Israel because at one point he identified himself as a Jewish American who wanted "to help our homeland and our war against our enemies."

 

A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny that it was Israel.

 

A year later, an undercover FBI agent posing as a representative of the foreign country contacted Doxer to see if he still wanted to help and after he agreed, the agent provided instructions on how to communicate with him and told Doxer where to deliver the information.

 

Doxer was accused of visiting the drop site at least 62 times over 18 months and at one point provided contractual papers between Akamai and the US Department of Homeland Security, according to the criminal complaint.

 

In one letter left at the drop by Doxer, he noted he could be fired and that he was breaking the law.

 

"All I want is some compensation," he said according to the complaint.

 

At one point Doxer said he would reduce his price in exchange for pictures or information about his son who lived with his mother and stepfather in another country.

 

Prosecutors said the foreign government cooperated with the investigation and the complaint against Doxer did not accuse that government of seeking or obtaining the sensitive information.

 

Doxer could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. It was not immediately clear if Doxer had a lawyer yet.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.07.10, 09:30
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