WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOOTPRESS) – Three individuals, including two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers and one former soldier, were arrested on Thursday following federal grand jury indictments related to bribery, theft of government property, and the transmission of national defense information.
Jian Zhao and Li Tian, both stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Ruoyu Duan, a former soldier, face charges in two separate cases.
Tian and Duan were indicted in the District of Oregon for conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property.
Zhao was charged in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information, as well as bribery and theft of government property.
Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi stated, “The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China. They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the severity of the case, saying, “While bribery and corruption have thrived under China’s Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information.”
He added that the FBI and its partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who compromise U.S. national security.
The indictment in Oregon alleges that from November 2021 to December 2024, Tian and Duan conspired to gather sensitive military information, including technical manuals and data on U.S. Army operational capabilities.
Tian allegedly provided this information to Duan in exchange for money.
Specifically, Tian is accused of obtaining details about U.S. military weapon systems, including the Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, and transmitting them to Duan.
In Washington, Zhao is accused of conspiring since July 2024 to obtain and transmit national defense information to individuals in China.
He allegedly collected and attempted to sell classified hard drives, including those marked “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET.”
Prosecutors say Zhao negotiated with individuals in China for their sale and agreed to send the hard drives in exchange for at least $10,000.
Additionally, Zhao allegedly attempted to sell a stolen encryption-capable government computer and sensitive military documents, including information on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and U.S. military readiness in the event of a conflict with China.
In total, he is accused of accepting at least $15,000 in bribes.
Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, Commanding General of the Army Counterintelligence Command, underscored the national security implications of the case.
“These arrests underscore the persistent and increasing foreign intelligence threat facing our Army and nation,” he said. “We remind all members of the Army team to increase their vigilance and protect our Army by reporting suspicious activity.”
The FBI and the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command led the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey Barrow and Katherine Rykken for the District of Oregon, along with Trial Attorneys Christopher Cook and Yifei Zheng from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
