Posted on 10/14/2026 2:03:07 PM PDT by BenLurkin
A Ventura County man is facing federal charges after allegedly using his access as a civilian contractor to secretly photograph and film sensitive military equipment and operations at a Southern California naval base, then share the footage with others.
Todd Jeremy Senff, 46, of Camarillo, was charged with 14 federal misdemeanors, including 11 counts of violating defense property security regulations and three counts of entering military property for an unlawful purpose, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Senff allegedly took photos and videos of military aircraft, equipment and training exercises at Naval Base Ventura County’s Point Mugu installation between June and September 2024.
Federal prosecutors say Senff worked for a Navy construction services contractor that was awarded a three-year contract in September 2023. His involvement in approximately four construction projects allowed him to obtain credentials granting access to certain areas of the base.
According to court documents, the footage included F-35 fighter jets taking off and landing, an F-15E taking off, an F/A-18 inside a hangar and military helicopters. Other recordings allegedly showed aircraft participating in military exercises and equipment near the flight line.
Prosecutors also allege Senff shared some of the unauthorized images and videos with associates, along with messages about military activities.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
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“shared some of the unauthorized images and videos with associates”
“Associates”? Rather vague.
Maybe they are all aviation enthusiasts.
Or maybe not.
“shared some of the unauthorized images and videos with associates”
“Associates”? Rather vague.
Maybe they are all aviation enthusiasts.
Or maybe not.
First post totally stalled out. That means what I wrote is going to go “poof”. So I clicked the “back” button and hit “Post” again.
Then I found out the first one had actually gone through. So now I have a double post. But I’m nowhere near the record of 50.
Yeah, except for maybe the F-35, and unless he was peeking under the hood somehow, this sounds like typical aviation buff photography. Who did he share it with is important, friends, family, or fat chinese college students? What did he see that the public cant see at any airshow or sitting under the runway approach at many bases?
We had the Black Sheep Squadron of F-35s here in Coeur d’Alene three summers ago. Visitors were out on the flight line not 20 yards from the parked F-35s. It was spectacular.
My son and I were at the Mojave Spaceport a decade ago and went into the airport. In the briefing room, we got chatting with a couple of Navy pilots. They were getting hours on a flight to Colorado to see one of the guys’s dads. They invited us out to their F18 Growler and we got to walk around the aircraft and sit in the cockpits. The pilot told us the one thing we could not photograph was the air intakes!
I would bet that most of the photos are no more revealing than a video you could take at a public airshow.
I would bet that most of the photos are no more revealing than a video you could take at a public airshow.
I’m going to call BS. Nobody has used film in 20 or more years.
There are "aviation enthusiasts" in China. And Russia. And Iran. There might even be some in North Korea ...
Last year, I was at Point Mugu for a rally staged by 805 Patriots, a conservative activist group active in the 805 area code west of Los Angeles. Two warplanes flew overhead, and my flight radar app on my cell phone identified them as a Hawker Hunter and a Mirage. I didn’t think the Navy used those planes, and besides, they were almost antiques. However, it turns out that they are most likely privately owned by an entrepreneur who uses them to help train Navy pilots.
Even if that the case, that is not the point. He is charged with violating access rules. I am not sure why it took 2 years to charge him. Maybe he or or one of his coworkers posted pictures on social media.

Well, this is what she was painted like before she became part of the ATAC, a civilian aviation company which provides adversary training to the US military using jets like these.
She was painted up like this in her former airshow life, but likely was painted up as some kind of third world adversary fighter. They are used because they are easy to fly, maneuverable, and relatively easy to maintain...or were.
She was known as "Miss Demeanor"...:)
I am generally not much of a fan of British aviation style post WWII, but give them credit here. That is a lovely plane even without the spectacular paint job.
Spies usually get executed.
Taking photos of aircraft on bases has always been frowned upon, to the best of my knowledge. That said, a friend of mine parked his yellow VW bug under the approaching jets where we were stationed. We were in full view of the tower, incoming aircraft and taking pictures. Not so much as a Security Police visit. All I can figure is that it was so brazen that everyone just assumed that we had permission.
He's either a jerk that needs his clearance pulled or a traitor who needs some prison time.
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