Michael Charles Schena, 42, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia, has been detained on accusations related to an alleged conspiracy involving national defense information.
According to court filings, Schena worked for the United States Department of State at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and had top-secret security clearance. Starting around April 2022, he allegedly exchanged unlawful material with people he met online in exchange for money. On February 27, he allegedly used a cellphone to picture documents labeled “SECRET” from his classified computer monitor before returning home, where his phone was taken.
Schena, who is charged with conspiracy to gather, transfer, or lose national security material, faces up to ten years in jail. A federal district court judge will determine the punishment, taking into account the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other circumstances.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office conducted the investigation, with assistance from the FBI Richmond Field Office and other agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Ben’Ary and Gavin R. Tisdale are prosecuting the case, together with Trial Attorney Maria Fedor from the National Security Division.