Arthur Walker, convicted in 1985 of participating in spy ring, dies in federal prison in NC

NORFOLK, Va. – Arthur Walker, a retired Navy lieutenant convicted in 1985 for his role in a spy ring, has died in prison. He was 79.

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke says Walker died earlier this month at FCI Butner Low in Butner, North Carolina.

Walker was convicted of stealing secret documents from a defense contractor and giving them to his brother, John A. Walker Jr., for delivery to the Soviet Union.

John Walker pleaded guilty in 1985 along with his son, Michael L. Walker, to charges of spying for the Soviet Union.

Arthur Walker and John Walker received life sentences under rules that considered such federal terms to constitute 30 years in prison. Michael Walker was released in 2000.

The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/1kIHh3U ) reported Arthur Walker's death Thursday.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com