The facts
Abraham Teklu Lemma, 54, pleaded guilty on 3 November to conspiring to transmit national-defense information to the Ethiopian government. He had worked as an IT contractor at the U.S. State Department, Justice Department and National Reconnaissance Office, prosecutors said. [1][2]
Court papers cited by the Justice Department say Lemma conspired with senior Ethiopian officials from 2021 until his arrest in August 2023 to transmit dozens of documents, notes, materials and photographs classified up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information. [1]
The FBI said Ethiopian officials used intelligence Lemma supplied in military operations, AP reported. The Justice Department did not identify the operations or say whether anyone was killed as a result. [1][2]
A judge scheduled sentencing for 14 April 2027. The plea agreement provides for 120 to 262 months in prison, subject to the court accepting it. [1][2]
Relevant context
The conduct described in the plea materials ended with Lemma’s arrest in 2023. The plea is not evidence of a connection to renewed fighting reported in Ethiopia in 2026. [1][2]
Still unconfirmed
- The specific military operations in which Ethiopian officials used the intelligence have not been disclosed.
- Whether the intelligence caused or contributed to anyone’s death is not established in the public accounts reviewed.
- Ethiopia’s government had not issued a public statement on the case at the time of AP’s report.
- The final sentence remains for the court; the plea-agreement range is subject to judicial acceptance.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 4 Nov 2026, 16:10 UTC.
The DOJ release is the primary account of the 3 November plea and prosecutors’ allegations; AP independently reports the plea and context. The story attributes claimed military use to U.S. officials and does not infer specific targets, casualties or a link to renewed 2026 fighting.
- Former U.S. Government Contractor Pleads Guilty to Spying for Ethiopia
U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia · Primary source · 3 Nov 2026
Opened the DOJ release dated 3 November. It reports the plea, conduct period and classification level described in court papers, sentencing date and plea-agreement range. Statements about intended targeting are attributed to officials.
- US contractor admits passing US top-secret information to Ethiopia in its war against rebels
The Associated Press · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened AP’s report. It says an FBI counterintelligence official said Ethiopian officials used supplied intelligence in military operations, while specific operations and whether anyone was killed were not disclosed. AP reports Ethiopia had not issued a public statement at publication time.