Michael Charles Schena, a 42-year-old resident of Alexandria, Virginia, has been arrested on charges related to an alleged conspiracy to gather, transmit, or lose national defense information. The arrest follows an investigation into Schena's activities while employed at the U.S. Department of State (DOS) in Washington, D.C.
Court documents reveal that Schena held a Top Secret security clearance and had access to sensitive information within his DOS workspace. Starting around April 2022, he allegedly communicated with individuals online through various platforms and provided them with unauthorized information in exchange for payments. On February 27, Schena reportedly used a cellphone to photograph documents marked as "SECRET" displayed on his classified computer monitor. These images were taken home before the cellphone was seized.
Schena faces charges that could result in up to 10 years in prison if convicted. A federal district court judge will decide any sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office led the investigation with support from the FBI Richmond Field Office, the Department of Justice’s Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Office of Counterintelligence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Ben’Ary and Gavin R. Tisdale from the Eastern District of Virginia, along with Trial Attorney Maria Fedor from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, are prosecuting this case.
For further details on this case, related documents can be found on the websites of both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and PACER by searching Case No. 1:25-mj-143.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation; Michael Charles Schena is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
