Former Army Sergeant Indicted for Attempting to Share National Security Information with China
A former Army sergeant, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, aged 29, found himself in the clutches of the law, with his recent arrest in San Francisco after returning from Hong Kong. His alleged crime? Attempting to share classified national security information with Chinese intelligence, making use of a device that granted him access to secure military networks—a device he retained after leaving the Army.
Scheduled to make his first court appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Schmidt faces two serious felonies: attempting to deliver national defense information and retaining national defense information.
Schmidt served as an active-duty soldier from 2015 to 2020 and was last stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state as a member of the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion, granting him access to secret and top-secret information. Further court proceedings are expected in Washington.
The gravity of this situation was underscored by Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Matthew G. Olsen, who emphasized, “Individuals entrusted with national defense information have a continuing duty to protect that information beyond their government service and certainly beyond our borders.” The National Security Division is unwavering in its commitment to identifying and holding accountable those who breach this duty.
Schmidt’s alleged involvement with China began in 2020 when he first reached out to the Chinese consulate in Turkey, shortly after leaving the Army. Subsequently, he contacted Chinese security services via email, offering national security information. In March 2020, he journeyed to Hong Kong, where he met with Chinese officials. His stay in China continued until his arrest at San Francisco International Airport.
Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington expressed her shock at the situation, saying, “Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution. In that context, the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking—not only attempting to provide national defense information but also information that would assist a foreign adversary in gaining access to Department of Defense secure computer networks.” Gorman also commended the FBI for their diligent efforts to thwart Schmidt’s alleged betrayal.
Schmidt could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. The FBI and the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command are actively investigating the case.