Former U.S. Army Sergeant Arrested for Attempting to Provide Classified Information to China

In a shocking turn of events, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, a former U.S. Army sergeant, was apprehended on Friday for allegedly seeking to provide classified information to China, as announced by the Justice Department. Schmidt, 29, who served in an Army intelligence unit from 2015 until 2020, now faces charges of retaining national defense information and attempting to deliver it to China.

The Justice Department revealed that Schmidt, after leaving the military, made an offer to provide national defense information to the Chinese consulate in Turkey as well as the Chinese security services. It was in March 2020 that Schmidt, who had access to secret and top-secret information while serving in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, traveled to Hong Kong. Surprisingly, even after leaving the military, he continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information.

According to the department, Schmidt allegedly retained a device that allows access to secure military computer networks and offered it to Chinese authorities, with the intention of assisting them in gaining access to such networks. He remained primarily in Hong Kong until his recent return to the United States, where he was arrested upon arrival in San Francisco.

Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman expressed her shock over the allegations, stating, "Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution. In that context, the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking - not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks."

If convicted, Schmidt could face up to 20 years in prison for his crimes. This arrest comes merely two months after two members of the U.S. Navy were arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Jinchao Wei, who served on the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship in San Diego, was accused of handing over numerous documents, photos, and videos that disclosed the operation of ships and their systems. Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, stationed at a naval base near Los Angeles, was also arrested for allegedly spying for China over a nearly two-year period.

The arrest of Schmidt raises serious concerns about the potential breach of national security and highlights the importance of vigilance and counterintelligence measures. The Army Counterintelligence Command is actively assisting the FBI in their investigation into this case.

It is worth noting that the charges against Schmidt are distinct from those faced by former President Donald Trump for his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Trump currently faces 31 counts of willful retention of classified documents, among other charges.

These recent incidents serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by foreign adversaries seeking to exploit vulnerabilities within the United States' national security apparatus, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to safeguard classified information and protect the country's interests.