Washington - A US government space scientist accused of trying to sell classified information to Israel has reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Stewart David Nozette is scheduled to enter his plea on Wednesday morning in Washington federal court. Lawyers in the case declined to discuss the agreement they reached.
Nozette has been in jail since he was arrested nearly two years ago after an undercover sting operation. He has been charged with four counts of attempted espionage, which could carry the death penalty. He initially pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors accused him of seeking $2 million to sell secrets to an undercover FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence officer.
Nozette had high-level security clearances during decades of government work on science and space projects, including the anti-missile defense system. - Sapa-AP