(NewsNation) — Federal prosecutors have charged an active-duty Army soldier with obtaining, sharing and ultimately selling national defense information to Chinese buyers.
The newly unsealed federal indictment accuses Jian Zhao, a battery supply sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state, of entering in July 2024 “into a corrupt scheme” in which he allegedly shared classified information with someone in Changchun, China, identified only as “Co-Conspirator 1.”
Zhao, through the co-conspirator, allegedly sold an encrypted military computer, 20 classified hard drives, photos of classified documents and more to buyers. The information reportedly included details of the United States’ High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.
He allegedly received at least $15,000 between August and December 2024 from the deals, according to court documents.
Zhao also faces charges of bribery and theft of government property.
Federal prosecutors in Oregon have also charged Li Tian, an active-duty Army soldier stationed at the same base in Washington, with sharing sensitive information with a former soldier.
Tian allegedly shared documents, including technical manuals, with former service member Ruoyu Duan in exchange for money, according to a news release from the Justice Department.
The department said Tian and Duan were both taken into custody Thursday and charged with conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property.
“The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” U.S. Attorney General Pom Bondi said in a statement. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”