Philadelphia spy case ends in prison sentence for former defense contractor

Photo by Kieran Lamb via Flickr Crime

Philadelphia spy case ends in prison sentence for former defense contractor Paul Davis September 25, 2025 September 24, 2025

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Spy stories in fact and fiction generally take place in exotic locales like Hong Kong or Berlin. But a spy story ended right here in Philadelphia on September 15th with the sentencing of a former defense contractor for attempted espionage.

David Metcalf, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced that John Murray Rowe Jr., 67, of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced to 126 months in prison, three years’ supervised release, and a $25,000 fine by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for attempted esp