Adam Winters Enters Guilty Plea To Extortion Of Babcock And Wilcox, Y-12, LLC.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 10, 2014, Adam Winters, 26, of Robins, Tenn., pleaded guilty to an information charging him with transmitting communications containing threats to injure the reputation of Babcock and Wilcox, Y-12, LLC., in interstate and foreign commerce with intent to extort money and other things of value from the corporation. Babcock and Wilcox, Y-12, LLC. (Babcock and Wilcox), is a corporation that manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Sentencing is set for 10:00 a.m., on Nov. 17, 2014, in U.S. District Court, Knoxville, before the Honorable Pamela L. Reeves, U.S. District Court Judge. Winters faces up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

According to the plea agreement on file with the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, on May 8, 2014, Winters emailed Babcock and Wilcox and attempted to email the Vice President of the United States, regarding copies of slides that the he possessed and that he alleged contained information he believed would injure the reputation of Babcock and Wilcox. Following the email, Winters used the internet and telephone, both of which are transmitted in interstate or foreign commerce, and communicated his threat to injure their reputation through the use of these slides.

On May 23, 2014, following his making these threats, Winters met with undercover law enforcement agents for the purpose of exchanging the slides for $2,500,000, that he had demanded from Babcock and Wilcox during his extortion attempt. During this exchange meeting, law enforcement officers revealed their identity and arrested Winters.

These charges are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooklyn Sawyers represents the United States.