Former Army Sergeant, 29, is facing charges after he ‘sent an email to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and the Secret Military Intelligence of China’s Security Services’ after being arrested at San Francisco airport while returning from Hong Kong Kong
- A former US Army sergeant was indicted after allegedly leaking top-secret US intelligence to China
- Joseph Daniel Smith, 29, held a military position with a high security clearance
- He traveled to China in 2020, where he reportedly attempted to provide security services with U.S. national defense information
A former US Army sergeant was accused of trying to share national security secrets with China after retiring from the military.
Joseph Daniel Smith, 29, was an active duty soldier in the U.S. Army from 2015 to 2020 and was most recently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
He was in charge of a Human Intelligence team responsible for overseeing “collection operations and the production of intelligence reporting, analysis, and the dissemination of intelligence products.”
His job included access to vast amounts of classified intelligence and top-secret security clearances, prosecutors said.
After separating from the military in 2020, Schmidt reportedly contacted the Chinese consulate in Turkey and emailed Chinese security services to provide information about U.S. national defense.
A former US Army sergeant was accused of sharing top-secret US intelligence with China after leaving the military
The ex-sergeant is said to have a device that provided access to secure military computer networks – which he wanted to give to the Chinese authorities.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Tessa Gorman said, “The alleged actions of this former military member are shocking – not only in an effort to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary gain access to the Ministry of Defense. secure computer networks.’
According to a press release from the Office of Public Affairs Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong for the US Department of Justice, where he reportedly further attempted to offer confidential information he knew from his high-security military post to Chinese intelligence.
The ex-sergeant is said to have had a device that gave access to secure military computer networks – which he is said to have presented to Chinese authorities.
He remained in China until this week and was arrested when he returned to the US on a flight to San Francisco.
Schmidt appeared Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and will be transferred to the Western District of Washington for further court proceedings.
The charges Schmidt faced following his arrest at San Francisco airport include attempting to provide national defense information and retaining national defense information.
Both charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen said, “Individuals entrusted with national defense information have an ongoing obligation to protect that information outside of their government service and certainly beyond our borders.
“The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who violate this duty.”
Joseph Daniel Smith, 29, served in the U.S. Army from 2015 to 2020 and was most recently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state
Schmidt appeared Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and will be transferred to the Western District of Washington for further court proceedings.
It comes after another case of leaked classified documents earlier this year.
A 21-year-old National Guard member was arrested by FBI officials in April for posting photos of between 50 and 100 classified U.S. documents online.
Jack Teixeira was a member of the intelligence division of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and unofficial leader of an online group called “Thug Shaker Central” – within which he distributed the documents, many of which related to the war in Ukraine.
Teixeira belonged to the oldest of the group of mainly young men and teenagers, who were crazy about gaming, guns and right-wing memes.
He was called ‘Jack the dripper’ and was called ‘OG’ by other members.
In May, a Massachusetts magistrate judge ruled that Teixeira must remain in jail while his case unfolds, citing Air National Guardsmen as a potential flight risk.
Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division said, “Joseph Daniel Schmidt was once a trusted guardian of our nation’s secrets and swore an oath to defend and protect America’s national security.
“As the administration alleges, Schmidt betrayed his promise and potentially endangered our nation in his efforts to pass national defense information to Chinese security services.”
