Former JBLM Soldier Pleads Guilty to Sharing Military Network Info with China

A former U.S. Army Sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord has admitted to attempting to provide classified military information to Chinese intelligence services, marking a significant national security breach case.

Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty to federal espionage charges in Seattle federal court, facing up to a decade in prison for his efforts to compromise American military secrets during a three-year period living in China.

Schmidt entered guilty pleas on Wednesday before U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour to two serious federal felonies: attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information.

Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced that Schmidt’s sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2025, where he could face up to ten years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge.

The guilty plea represents a conclusion to a complex counterespionage investigation that spanned multiple years and countries.

Schmidt’s case highlights the ongoing concerns about insider threats within the U.S. military and the persistent efforts by foreign intelligence services to recruit American service members with access to classified information.

The charges specifically relate to his attempts to provide national defense information to Chinese authorities and his unauthorized retention of classified materials after leaving military service.

Security Clearance Access

• Schmidt served as an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020, with his primary assignment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in western Washington as part of the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion.
  
• His military role provided him with access to both SECRET and TOP SECRET classified information, positioning him with knowledge of sensitive national defense materials that would be valuable to foreign adversaries.
  
• Following his separation from the military in January 2020, Schmidt retained unauthorized access to classified information and materials from his service period.
  
• Court records indicate that he possessed a device capable of accessing secure military computer networks, which he later offered to Chinese authorities to facilitate their efforts to penetrate American military systems.
  
• This retention of materials and access capabilities represents a significant security breach that continued well beyond his military service.

Chinese Intelligence Contact and Arrest

According to Report, Schmidt initiated contact with Chinese intelligence services through multiple channels, beginning with outreach to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey before establishing direct communication with Chinese security services via email.

In March 2020, he traveled to Hong Kong, where he continued his espionage activities for over three years.

During his time in China, primarily in Hong Kong, Schmidt created extensive documentation describing various “high level secrets” he was prepared to provide to the Chinese government.

His efforts included offering the secure network access device to Chinese authorities, potentially compromising American military cybersecurity infrastructure.

Schmidt remained in Chinese territory until October 2023, when he returned to the United States.

His espionage activities came to an end when he flew into San Francisco International Airport in October 2023, where FBI agents arrested him upon arrival.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI with crucial assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case with support from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

Find this Story Interesting! Follow us on LinkedIn and X to Get More Instant Updates.