Laurel Man Indicted for Allegedly Removing Classified Documents from SCIF

A federal grand jury in the District of Maryland returned an indictment charging Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, 61, of Laurel, Maryland, with multiple counts alleging unlawful transmission and retention of classified national defense information. Prosecutors allege Perez-Lugones repeatedly accessed classified reports in a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), printed or copied the material, and removed those printouts from the secured area between October 2025 and January 2026.

The indictment, returned Jan. 22, 2026, follows an earlier criminal complaint and lays out specific counts related to the transmission and retention of classified national defense information. The U.S. Attorney’s Office release accompanying the filing notes the indictment and lists the charges; it also states that investigative agencies participated in the probe and asks anyone with related information to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The filing itself represents formal charges and moves the matter into the federal criminal process.

A SCIF is a specially secured facility used to store and review highly classified information, and federal rules generally prohibit removing classified materials from such spaces except under tightly controlled conditions. The allegation that printouts were taken from a SCIF touches on protocols designed to prevent inadvertent disclosure and to protect national security sources and methods. For Baltimore-area residents, the case underscores how local cleared workers, contractors and government employees operate within a regulatory framework intended to safeguard sensitive information.

The indictment does not establish guilt; it accuses Perez-Lugones of criminal conduct and brings those accusations before a federal court. Next steps in the process typically include arraignment and pretrial proceedings in the District of Maryland. Because the matter concerns national defense information, the case will be handled under federal statute and procedures that govern classified material and court security.

Local implications include potential impacts on employers and contracting practices across the region. Federal and private-sector employers that handle classified material may face increased scrutiny of access controls, printing and document handling procedures. Community members who work with or for government agencies and contractors should note the heightened attention to compliance with security protocols and the consequences that can arise from alleged lapses.

Investigative agencies were involved in the probe, and authorities are seeking additional information from the public through the U.S. Attorney’s Office. For readers in Baltimore City and the surrounding suburbs, the indictment is a reminder that the management of classified information is a local as well as national issue, affecting jobs, contracting relationships and public trust. The case will proceed through the federal courts, and updates will follow as arraignment and subsequent hearings occur.