On Aug. 30, Doxer pleaded guilty to foreign economic espionage.
Officials said this marked the first prosecution in Massachusetts for
foreign
economic espionage and the eighth in the United States.
In 2006, Doxer offered to help Israel by providing information on Arab
clients of Akamai Technologies, which helps operate the Web sites of 10
militaries. In an e-mail to the Israeli consulate in Boston, Doxer said he
worked in Akamai's finance department and maintained access to client
records.
Officials said the consulate relayed the e-mail to the U.S. government.
About 15 months later, an FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence
representative contacted Doxer and offered money for information from Akamai.
Over the next next 18 months, Doxer was said to have visited a pre-arranged
site 62 times to drop off data from Akamai or receive orders.
"Included in the trade secret information that Doxer provided the
undercover agent were an extensive list of Akamai's customers; contracts
between the company and various customers revealing contact, services,
pricing, and termination date information; and a comprehensive list of the
company's employees that revealed their positions and full contact
information," the U.S. attorney's office said.
Doxer was also said to have offered to "support special and sensitive
operations" for Israel. Officials did not disclose the information relayed
by Doxer and whether it involved the U.S. or Arab militaries.
"We would also like to acknowledge and thank Akamai Technologies, Inc.,
for its assistance throughout all stages of the investigation and
prosecution," the U.S. attorney's office said.
Doxer was arrested in October 2010, on charges of wire fraud. Officials
said Doxer, scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 30, would instead face a
charge of foreign economic espionage, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in
prison.
The case was the latest in which the FBI conducted a false flag
operation in which an American Jew was asked to provide information for
Israel. In 2009, the FBI staged a sting operation against a former scientist
from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, David Nozette, later
charged with attempted espionage.
"The conduct alleged in this complaint is serious and should serve as a
warning to anyone who would consider compromising our nation's secrets for
profit," Assistant Attorney David Kris said.