Ex-Army Colonel Sentenced to Two Years for Sharing Classified Military Plans with Online Acquaintance

A former Army Colonel from Florida has received a two-year jail term for attempting to impress a woman he encountered online by transmitting confidential military battle plans.

Kevin Charles Luke, a 62-year-old retired combat veteran, was employed as a civilian contractor with top-secret clearance at U.S. military operations in Tampa in October 2024. During this time, he sent a text containing a photograph of classified plans related to a military operation in the Middle East to the woman he was dating, as detailed in court records.

In the message, he claimed, “Sent to my boss earlier,” alongside an image of an email visible on his work computer at Central Command located at MacDill Air Force Base. He misguidedly added, “Gives you a peek at what I do for a living.”

The image comprised a secret email detailing the planned date of the operation, the target count, and specific battle tactics, according to court filings.

This classified email was marked “SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY,” signifying that it was restricted to authorized individuals within the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance, which consists of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Around two months later, Luke, who dedicated 37 years to military service before he retired in 2018, ended his relationship with the undisclosed woman.

Following their breakup, she reported him to the authorities, leading to a search of his residence by federal agents, his attorney Mark O’Brien stated.

Luke later entered a guilty plea for the unauthorized sharing of military strike plans, maintaining that the message was intended to impress the woman rather than an act of treachery or for financial gain.

The specific attack referenced in his email remains uncertain, but it coincided with the days leading up to a series of airstrikes conducted by Central Command in Yemen targeting the Houthis, a militant Islamic group.

U.S. District Judge James Moody expressed grave concerns regarding Luke's actions, emphasizing that “[his] betrayal of the nation’s secrets—which disclosed a then-future military operation and jeopardized service members—is deeply troubling,” in his official sentencing statement.

While addressing the judge, Luke became emotional. He acknowledged, “I stand before you accepting full responsibility for my actions. What I did was wrong. I violated the trust placed in me, and, sir, I am ashamed of that.”

The prosecution initially sought a four-year sentence; however, Judge Moody ultimately determined a two-year term was appropriate, balancing the gravity of the offense against Luke's extensive military background.

“This is a difficult sentencing,” Judge Moody remarked.

With good behavior, Luke might serve 15 months or less, according to O’Brien.

O’Brien elaborated, stating, “In a moment of bad judgment, he sent a text photo of his work to a woman he was seeing. There is no excuse for this. It was a split-second decision designed to impress a woman that only came to light months later, after he ended the relationship. He deeply regrets his actions.”