Bristol County man taken into custody concerning alleged unauthorized removal, retention, transmission of classified national defense info

A Bristol County man has been placed into custody concerning leaked classified defense information.

United States Attorney General Merrick Garland with Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate announced today that the Justice Department arrested 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information.

Teixeira is an employee of the United States Air Force National Guard.

FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident. He will have an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts tomorrow.

Garland thanked the FBI, Justice Department prosecutors, and colleagues at the Department of Defense for their diligent work on this case.

Garland stated that the investigation is ongoing, and he will share more information at the appropriate time.

According to the Town of Dighton, there is an ongoing police presence in the areas of Maple, Sesame and Wheeler Streets.

Multiple reports have stated that Teixeira is from Swansea and was taken into custody in Dighton.