Former, active-duty Army soldiers charged in scheme allegedly selling sensitive military information to China
Three U.S. Army soldiers – two active-duty and one former – have been indicted for their alleged roles in gathering and selling sensitive information to China, the DOJ said.
Two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers and one former soldier were arrested in Oregon on Thursday for their alleged roles in gathering and sending sensitive information to individuals in China, the Department of Justice said.
The accused are Jian Zhao and Li Tian, who were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and former soldier Ruoyo Duan.
All three are charged with conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property. Zhao is facing additional charges of conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual not authorized to receive it.
“The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
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The Department of Justice announced indictments against three U.S. Army soldiers – two active-duty and one former – for their alleged roles in gathering and selling sensitive information to China. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Duan and Tian are accused of conspiring with each other to “surreptitiously gather sensitive military information related to the United States Army’s operational capabilities” from Nov. 28, 2021, to at least Dec. 19, 2024, the DOJ said. Information included that of technical manuals and military weapon systems, specifically Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles.
Active-duty Army officer Tian was tasked with gathering the above information for former soldier Duan in return for money, the DOJ said.
Zhao, an active-duty Army supply sergeant, allegedly began conspiring to obtain and send national defense information to people in China sometime in July 2024.
“Specifically, Zhao was charged for his conspiracy to collect and transmit several classified hard drives, including hard drives marked ‘SECRET’ and ‘TOP SECRET,’ negotiating with individuals based in China for their sale, and agreeing to send the classified hard drives to the individuals in China,” according to the DOJ.
Attorney General Bondi said the three men charged “are accused of betraying our country” in an effort to empower China. (AP)
He allegedly received at least $10,000 in exchange for the classified hard drives.
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He is also accused of conspiring to sell a computer stolen from the U.S. government and sensitive military documents and information, including information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and military readiness in the event of a conflict with China. Zhao allegedly accepted around $5,000 in payments for the aforementioned items.
“Zhao is alleged to have violated his duties as a U.S. Army Soldier and public official to protect sensitive military information in exchange for money,” the DOJ said.
Two of the men accused are Jian Zhao and Li Tian, who were both stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office, described the behavior of all three as “unconscionable.”
“These arrests should send a message to would-be spies that we and our partners have the will and the ability to find you, track you down, and hold you to account,” Herrington said. “Protecting the nation’s secrets, especially those necessary to preserve our military advantage and protect our troops, is one of the FBI’s top priorities.”
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FBI Director Kash Patel said the men will “face American justice” after “stealing America’s defense intelligence capabilities and empowering adversaries like China in betrayal of our country.”
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Attorney General Bondi said the three men ‘are accused of betraying our country’ to empower China
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Active-duty Army soldier charged with selling classified info to China
Jian Zhao is accused of selling an encrypted military computer and hard drives.
An active-duty U.S. army sergeant has been charged with repeatedly selling sensitive military and national defense secrets to co-conspirators working on behalf of China, according to newly unsealed court records.
Jian Zhao, a battery supply sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state, is alleged by federal prosecutors to have communicated with an unnamed co-conspirator from July to December of last year in order to sell an encrypted military computer and 20 classified hard drives.
Zhao is charged with conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information as well as bribery and theft of government property.
In addition to Zhao’s arrest, federal prosecutors in Oregon have also charged another active-duty U.S. Army soldier stationed at the same base who they allege shared sensitive information related to the military’s weapons systems with a former soldier, according to a press release from the Justice Department.
Li Tian allegedly shared documents that related to Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier. Both were taken into custody on Thursday and charged with conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property, according to the DOJ.
“The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said, “These individuals have been charged with stealing America’s defense intelligence capabilities and empowering adversaries like China in betrayal of our country. They will now face American justice.”
In the alleged scheme involving the sale of the encrypted computer, prosecutors said Zhao was paid $1,000 and told his co-conspirator, “It’s for two functions. It’s for encryption slot or for hard drive. It’s very rare now. Hard to find. If you can guarantee both of our safety while making some money for both of us, sell it. It’s the end of the year.”
Zhao also allegedly engaged in talks with two buyers from China, including his original co-conspirator, to sell them classified hard drives.
According to prosecutors, red stickers on the hard drives indicated they contained secret-level information while yellow or orange stickers indicated they contain top-secret level information.
“I have many computer hard drives,” Zhao allegedly said to his co-conspirator. “It may not be possible to check the contents of the hard drives. Tomorrow I will check how many are left. Do you understand unclassified and secret?”
According to prosecutors, Zhao was paid at least $7,500 for selling multiple hard drives to the buyers, and in October offered additional classified hard drives.
Also in October, prosecutors said Zhao sold sensitive military documents that he had photographed at his base, which he offered at a starting price of $3,000 to $4,000 each.
Ultimately, his co-conspirator agreed to a sale of $6,500 for two documents.
Court documents include surveillance photos of Zhao taking photos of documents at his desk with a smartphone at the same time prosecutors alleged he was communicating with his associate.
In a memo asking a judge to detain Zhao before trial, prosecutors detail Zhao’s ties to China and his communications in which he has “repeatedly” said he wants to move back to the country, telling one person he offered sensitive intelligence to, “Damn it” “I really want to go back to China.”
Prosecutors called Zhao’s alleged conduct “particularly reprehensible – selling information vital to the national security for thousands of dollars” and said it demonstrates Zhao is a flight risk and should be detained.
Prosecutors said they believe Zhao maintains a warehouse that they have been unable to locate and has also taken other sensitive information but do not yet know where that information is or to whom it was sent.
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