U.S. Soldiers in Oregon and Washington Accused of Stealing Top-Secret Documents
Federal prosecutors have charged three current and former U.S. Army soldiers with selling top-secret national security information to buyers linked to the People’s Republic of China. The accused soldiers were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, with one of the individuals, Sergeant Jian Zhao, actively serving as a battery supply officer, and Lieutenant Lee Tian serving as a healthcare administrator. Former soldier Ruoyu Duan, who resides in Hillsboro, Oregon, is also implicated in the scheme.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, all three individuals were arrested on Thursday. Zhao, who was convicted by a federal grand jury in Tacoma, is accused of conspiring to “obtain and transmit national defense-related information to individuals not authorized to receive it.” Prosecutors claim that Zhao sold 20 classified hard drives and other government property to individuals working on behalf of China, receiving at least $15,000 in return. Zhao also faces charges of government property theft and bribery.
Tian and Duan have been indicted for conspiring to steal government property and bribe a public official. A 35-page indictment filed in Oregon identifies a “Conspirator 1” as a battery supply sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The charges allege that Tian and the unidentified conspirator collected and transmitted sensitive U.S. military information in exchange for money provided by Duan, with the funds originating from the People’s Republic of China. Prosecutors suggest that the conspiracy began on November 28, 2021, and continued until December 19, 2024.
FBI Special Agent Douglas Olson stated in a press release, “Ruoyu Duan and Lee Tian violated their military oath. Their actions placed U.S. national security at significant risk and breached the oath they took as military members to defend the American people.”
The indictment reveals that Chinese intelligence services use “cut-outs” or “co-opted” individuals to facilitate operations—people who act as intermediaries between the source and the intelligence officers, ensuring operational security. These individuals are often tasked with handling classified or open-source information that China can exploit for its benefit.
Duan reportedly transferred money from Chinese accounts and used it to pay Tian, the conspirator, and other security-cleared individuals, including active-duty U.S. Army soldiers. Court documents also highlight Zhao’s attempts to sell hard drives and other military information, with one incident featuring Zhao asking a foreign national, identified as “Co-conspirator 1” in court filings, if the buyer needed “intelligence.”
Zhao is also accused of selling details about the U.S. Army’s long-range artillery system, known as HIMARS (High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System), for $6,500. The indictment states that Zhao referred to the documents as “very sensitive” and difficult to obtain. Surveillance footage from October 27, 2024, shows Zhao communicating with Co-conspirator 1, while taking pictures of PowerPoint presentations related to military operations. He also copied a presentation on rocket and missile operations, as well as simulations and multinational command post exercises in the Pacific.
In November, Zhao took photos and videos of sensitive documents related to a military exercise simulating conflict with China, captured from his government computer screen.
This ongoing investigation underscores the gravity of the situation, revealing the complex nature of espionage and the potential threat to U.S. national security posed by such acts.
