In January 2007, Oakley contacted the French Embassy and consulates in several U.S. cities to determine the country’s interest in purchasing the nuclear data and equipment, according to the plea agreement. The French government contacted the FBI and set up a sting in which an FBI agent posed as a French government agent.
Hard to imagine why he thought they would not just turn him in to the FBI. Perhaps he thought France was an enemy of the US?
The materials Oakley had tried to sell to a foreign government were, in fact, pieces of equipment known as “barrier” and associated hardware items that play a crucial role in the production of highly enriched uranium — a special nuclear material — through the gaseous diffusion process. In his role as a janitor, Oakley was supposed to have broken up the barrier for disposal. But Oakley says he knew the gaseous diffusion process used in the U.S. is better than the methods currently used in France, and he therefore stole four of the barrier tubes and offered to sell them to French agents.
Interesting to note how educated he was about the quality of the barrier, especially with regard to the French. Did he overhear a conversation, read a brief or just figure it out on his own?
