A Japanese-American with dual citizenship, 27-year-old Tomoya Kawakita was charged with the torture of American POWs in Japan, where he had attended college and served as an interpreter for the Japanese during World War II.

Convicted of treason in 1951 and sentenced to death, Kawakita's sentence was commuted to life in prison by President Eisenhower. In 1963, President Kennedy had Kawakita deported to Japan and permanently prohibited from returning to the United States.

The first person to be charged with treason against the U.S. since World War II is Adam Gadahn of Orange County, California.   According to the FBI's Most-Wanted Terrorists list:

"Adam Yahiye Gadahn was indicted in the Central District of California for treason and material support to Al Qaeda. The charges are related to Gadahn's alleged involvement in a number of terrorist activities, including providing aid and comfort to Al Qaeda and services for Al Qaeda."