In a significant press release issued on Thursday, March 6, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice (DOJ) declared that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), under the leadership of Director Kash Patel, had apprehended three US soldiers, two of whom are currently on active duty, on charges related to treason and the theft of national property.
Initially, the statement identified the three purported traitors and stated, “Jian Zhao and Li Tian, who are active-duty U.S. Army soldiers based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, along with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier, were apprehended today following indictments issued by federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington.
Tian and Duan face charges in the District of Oregon for conspiring to engage in bribery and the theft of government property. Zhao is charged in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to acquire and transmit national defense information to an unauthorized individual, as well as for bribery and theft of government property.”
The statement outlines the alleged treasonous activities, stating, “The indictment in the District of Oregon claims that starting on or around November 28, 2021, and continuing until at least December 19, 2024,
Duan and Tian, along with others, both known and unknown to the grand jury, conspired to secretly collect sensitive military information pertaining to the operational capabilities of the United States Army.
This included technical manuals and other classified data, with Tian transmitting this information to Duan in exchange for monetary compensation, thereby violating his official responsibilities as an active-duty U.S. Army officer.
Specifically, Tian was assigned the task of gathering information concerning U.S. military weapon systems, including details related to the Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles, and relaying this information to Duan.”
In addition, the statement remarked, “The indictment in the Western District of Washington claims that starting in or around July 2024, and persisting until the date of the arrest, Jian Zhao, a serving U.S. Army Supply Sergeant, conspired with both known and unknown individuals to the grand jury to acquire and relay national defense information to persons located in China. Furthermore, Zhao is accused of engaging in bribery and the theft of government property.”
Additionally, the statement highlighted the type of highly sensitive technology that one of the defendants was purportedly supplying to the Communist Chinese. It stated, “Specifically, Zhao faced charges for his conspiracy to gather and transmit multiple classified hard drives, which included drives labeled ‘SECRET’ and ‘TOP SECRET’.
He negotiated with individuals located in China for their sale and consented to send the classified hard drives to these individuals in China. In return for the sale of the classified hard drives, Zhao obtained a minimum of $10,000.”]} }
The statement further elaborated, “Zhao is additionally accused of conspiring to sell a computer capable of encryption that was unlawfully obtained from the U.S. Government, along with sensitive military documents and information pertaining to the U.S., including details regarding the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and data related to U.S. military preparedness in the event of a conflict with the People’s Republic of China.
Zhao is alleged to have breached his responsibilities as a U.S. Army Soldier and public official by failing to safeguard sensitive military information in exchange for financial gain. In total, it is alleged that Zhao corruptly received and accepted payments amounting to no less than $15,000.”
Commenting on the matter, Attorney General Bondi stated, “The individuals apprehended today are charged with betraying our nation, deliberately undermining America’s defense capabilities, and strengthening our adversaries in China.” She further pledged that they will be held accountable, asserting, “They will encounter prompt, harsh, and thorough justice.”
FBI Director Patel also contributed to the discussion. He stated, regarding the involvement of American service members in assisting China, “Although bribery and corruption have flourished under the Communist Party of China, such conduct is unacceptable for our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including information related to national defense.”
He stated, “The FBI, along with our partners, will persist in efforts to reveal attempts by individuals in China to appropriate sensitive U.S. military information and ensure that all those involved in compromising our national defense are held accountable. The FBI expresses gratitude to U.S. Army Counterintelligence for their strong collaboration throughout this investigation.”
Additionally, W. Mike Herrington, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office, provided his insights on the situation and the implications of their actions, stating, “It is unconscionable that an individual donning the uniform of a U.S. Army soldier would betray our nation and the trust placed in him by his fellow soldiers.”
He stated, “These arrests ought to convey a message to potential spies that we, along with our partners, possess both the determination and the capability to locate you, pursue you, and ensure you are held accountable. Safeguarding the nation’s secrets, particularly those essential for maintaining our military edge and safeguarding our personnel, ranks among the FBI’s highest priorities.”
