Soldier gets 16 years in spy case

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska-based military policeman will serve 16 years in prison and will be dishonorably discharged for selling secrets to an FBI undercover agent who he believed was a Russian spy, a panel of eight military members has decided.

Spec. William Colton Millay, of Owensboro, Ky., pleaded guilty last month to attempted espionage and other counts. He was sentenced Monday.

Military prosecutors painted him as a white supremacist who was fed up with the Army and the United States, and was willing to sell secrets to an enemy agent, even if that would cost fellow soldiers their lives.

Defense attorneys said Millay was emotionally stunted, was only seeking attention and was a candidate for rehabilitation.

Monday’s proceedings were like a mini-trial conducted in front of the sentencing panel, with both sides calling two witnesses.

FBI Special Agent Derrick Chriswell said Millay came to their attention in the summer of 2011 through an anonymous tip after Millay sent an email to a Russian publication seeking information about the military and made several calls to the Russian embassy.

The FBI, working with military intelligence agencies, conducted the investigation. On Sept. 13, 2011, an FBI undercover agent called Millay and set up a meeting the next day at an Anchorage hotel-restaurant.

Millay, 24, said he’d work for the Russian government, and if they made it worth his while, he’d re-enlist for a second five-year stint. He also said he had confidential information on the Warlock Duke jamming system the U.S. military uses to sweep roadside bombs.

The panel recommended a 19-year sentence, but that was dropped to 16 years because of a pretrial agreement. Millay will receive credit for the 535 days he’s been jailed since his arrest.