Russian citizen gets 4-year jail term for giving secret maps to Pentagon

Russia's Federal Security Service said on Thursday Russian counterintelligence caught Sipachev in 2008 when he sent the cartographic information from the Russian Armed Forces to the U.S. Defense Department over the Internet.

The verdict statement said the Pentagon used the cartographic material to adjust their cruise missiles and improve target accuracy.

Such crimes are usually subject to mush harsher sentences, but Sipachev's confession of guilt and cooperation with the investigation were taken into account in his trial and his punishment was mitigated accordingly.

"Sipachev actively assisted in investigations and helped to reveal the criminal activities of others. This has enabled us to prevent future breaches of Russian security," the verdict statement said; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.