Gardner Museum Heist Investigation

TAMPA, Fla. - A former US Army sergeant has admitted selling secret NATO plans for the nuclear defense of Europe that were passed to the Soviet Union, an FBI agent testified yesterday.

"It's one of the most serious breaches ever -- it's unprecedented what went over to the other side," said Special Agent Joe Navarro, who led the FBI's investigation. "The ability to defend ourselves is neutralized because they have all our plans."

Roderick James Ramsay, 28, made his initial court appearance yesterday on the charge of conspiracy to gather or deliver defense information to aid a foreign government. US Magistrate Elizabeth Jenkins ordered him held until a bond hearing Tuesday.

Ramsay's attorney, Mark Pizzo, did not enter any plea on his client's behalf. Ramsay faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted of espionage conspiracy.

Ramsay was arrested Thursday night on a downtown street following a two-year investigation.

The FBI said Ramsay worked in West Germany from 1983 to 1985 under Clyde Lee Conrad, 43, a retired US Army sergeant convicted of treason by a West German court and given a life sentence earlier this week.

"Ramsay has acknowledged that he was in fact recruited by Conrad in mid-to late-1983 and participated in espionage activity with him," Navarro testified.

Removed portions included: "Ramsay’s last known contact with Conrad came in January 1986 in Boston, when his former boss gave him a small cow bell and told him that anyone displaying a similar bell was involved in the spy ring, the agent testified."

Complete AP news story.