B-2 engineer awaits trial in secrets scandal
Federal prosecutors say more charges are pending against a Maui man accused of selling B-2 stealth bomber secrets to foreign governments.
Noshir Gowadia, a design engineer with Northrup who billed himself as the father of the B-2's infrared suppressing propulsion system, has been in federal custody since Oct. 26 and is awaiting trial in May. He is charged with six separate transfers of classified information.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said with the impending superseding indictment, "we feel this case will radically change," and asked that the court designate the case complex, giving the parties more time to prepare for trial.
He cited the sheer volume of discovery in the case, which includes information that has yet to be formally classified by the Air Force and a substantial amount of evidence from foreign countries involved.
Chris Todd, attorney for Gowadia, said his client is entitled to go to trial as speedily as possible and that his rights have been adversely affected by the slowness in which evidence is being classified.
Gillmor denied Gowadia's request to be released from custody in order to help prepare for his defense.