FBI PROBES LAPTOP DATA.Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW Staff Writer VALLEY VILLAGE -- The FBI has launched a criminal investigation into a Boeing Co. scientist over the handling of top-secret data, authorities said Thursday. Abraham Lesnik, listed as an employee at Boeing's Space Based Radar group in El Segundo El Segundo (ĕl sēgŭn`dō), industrial city (1990 pop. 15,223), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1917. Its products include navigation and computer systems, aircraft parts, office machines, telephone apparatus, and , has been the subject of three searches of his Valley Village home, the FBI confirmed. The investigation stems from classified information found on a laptop computer A portable computer that has a flat LCD screen and usually weighs less than eight pounds. Often called just a "laptop," it uses batteries for mobile use and AC power for charging the batteries and desktop use. Today's high-end laptops provide all the capabilities of most desktop computers. used by Lesnik that was confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. by Boeing, then turned over to the FBI, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. sources and news reports. Lesnik, an expert in high-energy physics, developed anti-missile systems for Boeing and has a high-level security clearance, according to court papers obtained by ABC News
ABC News is a division of American television and radio network ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company. Its current president is David Westin. and KFI-AM (640). His attorney said Lesnik -- who has not been arrested or charged -- has done nothing wrong. ``Mr. Lesnik has never improperly transmitted any classified information to anybody,'' attorney Marc Harris said. Spokesmen for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), division of the U.S. Dept. of Justice charged with investigating all violations of federal laws except those assigned to some other federal agency. and the Boeing Co. declined to discuss the case. Affidavits filed with the court have been sealed. ``Boeing is cooperating with the U.S. government investigation in this case and as such, we cannot comment further,'' said Boeing spokesman Walt Rice. Investigators told ABC News that Lesnik's laptop was turned over to the FBI amid questions about whether classified data had ``ended up in the hands of unauthorized individuals, including foreigners Foreigners alienage the condition of being an alien. androlepsy Law. the seizure of foreign subjects to enforce a claim for justice or other right against their nation. gypsyologist, gipsyologist Rare. .'' The investigation began when Boeing security officers confiscated Lesnik's company-furnished laptop earlier this year, citing potential misuse of the equipment, said court documents filed by Lesnik in a suit seeking return of the computer. A source told the Daily News that a supervisor had caught Lesnik surfing the Internet during a business meeting, then confiscated the computer, which contained classified information. The scientist sued, demanding Boeing return the laptop because it contained personal information about him and his family. A judge sided with Boeing, which then turned the laptop over to the FBI. Lesnik, contacted Thursday at his Hesby Street home, declined to comment. dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3730 |
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