A US sailor, Chief Petty Officer Bryce S. Pedicini, serving in Japan, was found guilty at a general court martial for attempted espionage, failure to obey a lawful order, and attempted violation of a lawful general order. The verdict was announced by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, with sentencing scheduled for May 7.
NCIS Director Omar Lopez emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating that the guilty verdict holds Pedicini accountable for betraying his country and fellow service members. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of adversaries to compromise US military superiority.
Pedicini faced accusations earlier this year, including 14 counts of espionage and communication of defense information. He was also charged with failing to report a foreign contact or solicitation of classified information. The sailor was assigned to the Japan-based destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76).
According to Navy prosecutors, Pedicini was apprehended in May 2023 for wrongfully transporting classified information, including photographs of a classified computer screen that he attempted to transfer to a foreign government. The charge sheet revealed that he shared classified data with a foreign government employee on multiple occasions, dating back to November 2022 when he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.
Pedicini, originally from Tennessee, enlisted in the Navy in 2008 and had served on two other destroyers before his assignment to the USS Higgins. His record includes promotions to the rank of chief fire controlman in August 2022, along with commendations such as three Good Conduct Medals and the National Defense Service Medal.
