[ad_1]
Ex-US soldier Joseph Daniel Schmidt arrested for attempting to supply defence information to China
A former US Military sergeant was arrested on Friday for looking for to supply categorized info to China, the Justice Division stated.
Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 29, who served in a military intelligence unit from 2015 till 2020, is charged with retaining nationwide defence info and making an attempt to ship it to China.
The Justice Division stated Schmidt, after leaving the navy, provided nationwide defence info to the Chinese language consulate in Turkey and the Chinese language safety providers.
In March 2020, Schmidt, who had entry to secret and high secret info whereas serving within the 109th Navy Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, went to Hong Kong, the place he “continued his efforts to supply Chinese language intelligence with categorized info”.
“He allegedly retained a tool that enables for entry to safe navy pc networks and provided the gadget to Chinese language authorities to help them in efforts to realize entry to such networks,” the division stated.
Schmidt stayed in China, primarily in Hong Kong, till his return to america on Friday. He was arrested upon arrival in San Francisco.
“Members of our navy take a sworn oath to defend our nation and the Structure,” appearing US lawyer Tessa Gorman stated.
“In that context the alleged actions of this former navy member are stunning – not solely making an attempt to supply nationwide defence info, but additionally info that may help a international adversary to realize entry to Division of Defence safe pc networks.”
Two US Navy sailors charged with offering navy info to China
Two US Navy sailors charged with offering navy info to China
Schmidt might face 20 years in jail.
His arrest comes two months after two members of the US Navy had been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
Jinchao Wei, who served on the amphibious assault ship the USS Essex in San Diego, allegedly handed over dozens of paperwork, images and movies detailing the operation of ships and their methods.
Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, who served at a naval base close to Los Angeles, allegedly spied for China for almost two years.
[ad_2]
Source link