Youth Gets Probation in Theft of Codes

The brother of a man convicted of stealing top-secret Navy code cards was sentenced to five years’ probation for his role in the theft and attempted sale of the goods to an undercover government agent. U.S. District Judge Earl Gilliam imposed the sentence on Bruce Tobias, 19, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen government property valued at less than $100. He lived in Chula Vista with his brother, Michael, 21, a petty officer on the tank-landing ship Peoria. Michael Tobias was convicted of stealing 12 cryptographic cards used for confidential communication among U.S. Navy ships.