TAO isresponsible for the developmentanddeploymentofsoftware that is used toinfiltrateforeigntargetcomputernetworks in order to achieveespionagetargets.
But it suggests he will not plead guilty to aiding enemies of the US (identified by prosecutors as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula), violating federal espionage and computer laws - charges for which he could face life in prison if found guilty.
Since then, he admitted to sending the material WikiLeaks and pleaded guilty to reduced charges on nine counts that alleged violations of federal espionage and computer fraud laws, and to one count alleging violation of a military regulation prohibiting wrongful storage of classified information.
That was one of the reasons Mr. Stephens says Best Buy objected when "Chuck, " an NBC comedy about a computer savant who becomes entangled in espionage, wanted to use Geek Squad as its setting.