Two active-duty U.S. troopers stationed in Washington state and one former soldier have been arrested on bribery and theft fees after being accused of promoting delicate data to China, in response to the Division of Justice (DOJ).
Jian Zhao and Li Tian, Military troopers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Ruoyu Duan, a former Military soldier, have been arrested on Thursday after a federal grand juries in Washington and Oregon indicted them.
Tian and Duan have been charged with conspiring to commit bribery and theft of presidency property, the DOJ stated in a Thursday information launch. Zhao was charged with conspiring to acquire and transmit nationwide protection data to an individual not licensed to obtain it, bribery and theft of presidency 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,” Lawyer Common Pam Bondi stated in a press release. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
The indictment out of Oregon alleges that round Nov. 28, 2021, Tian and Duan conspired to “surreptitiously gather sensitive military information” concerning the Military’s operational capabilities. Tian would then give the knowledge to Duan in change for cash.
Tian was gathering details about Bradley and Stryker Military combating automobiles, the DOJ stated.
Zhao is accused of conspiring with different people, starting round July 2024, to acquire and switch nationwide protection data to folks based mostly in China. Zhao was additionally alleged to have dedicated theft and bribery of presidency property, in response to the DOJ.
Zhao was additionally charged with efforts to gather and distribute a number of labeled arduous drives, together with some marked “secret” and “top secret,” whereas negotiation with folks in China.
In change for the sale of the arduous drives, Zhao would get no less than $10,000, in response to prosecutors.
Zhao additionally faces allegations of promoting an encryption-capable pc that was stolen, together with data concerning the Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a rocket launcher that was developed within the Nineteen Nineties, in response to the DOJ.
“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 assertion stated. “In total, Zhao is alleged to have corruptly received and accepted payments totaling at least $15,000.”
