Gowadia could face additional charges
Prosecutors would like the case over B-2 technology to be termed "complex"
A MAUI MAN awaiting trial on federal charges of selling classified data about the B-2 stealth bomber to foreign countries could face additional, more serious charges.
At a hearing in U.S. District Court yesterday to discuss Noshir S. Gowadia's pending Jan. 10 trial, assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said the government expects to file "other charges, more significant and detailed," but he did not elaborate.
Sorenson also said he will file a motion to have the court designate the case as complex, which would allow the normal trial deadlines to be waived to give the parties more time to prepare.
U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor continued the trial to May 9 until she rules on the government's request.
Chris Todd, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney hired by the Gowadia family, also disclosed yesterday he cannot continue to represent Gowadia.
The family had intended to pay for Gowadia's defense from the equity in the family's $1.8 million home in Haiku, Maui, but the government has filed a civil forfeiture action to seize the four-bedroom, 6,790-square-foot home as alleged proceeds of illegal activity.
While the government has agreed to release some of the equity to pay for Gowadia's legal fees, it is not enough, Todd said.
Sorenson said there is a large amount of classified information in this case, including tens of thousands of computer files that the defense has not seen yet, and likely will involve extensive foreign travel to prepare.
Defense attorneys only recently obtained required security clearances and have yet to see the classified evidence. Gowadia's new counsel will have to undergo the same security clearances.
The government expects to take at least three weeks to present its case, while the defense, based on what is alleged in the indictment, expects to take at least 10 days.
Todd argued that Gowadia is entitled to a speedy trial and disagreed that the case is complex, calling the indictment straightforward.
Gowadia, 61, an engineer who helped design the B-2 while a defense contractor with Northrop Corp. from 1968 to 1986 and billed himself as the father of the B-2 technology, allegedly admitted to selling classified information on the "infrared suppression" technology to eight other countries, according to court documents. He allegedly said he knew it was wrong and that he did it for the money.
Gowadia's defense has since argued that the charges in the indictment are based on a misunderstanding about his consulting work with U.S. allies.
