Federal authorities have announced the arrests of two active-duty military personnel and one former service member on charges related to national security violations.
According to the Department of Justice, the individuals were allegedly involved in transmitting classified military information to foreign entities. The arrests were made following separate grand jury indictments in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington.
The individuals named are Jian Zhao and Li Tian, active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Ruoyu Duan, a former Army soldier.
Tian and Duan were charged in Oregon with conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property. Zhao was charged in Washington with conspiring to transmit national defense information, bribery, and theft of government property.
Investigators allege that Duan and Tian conspired over a three-year period to collect and share sensitive information related to U.S. Army operational capabilities, including technical manuals and data on specific military vehicle systems. The DOJ stated that Tian received payments in return for this information.
In the case against Zhao, officials say he conspired to sell classified hard drives and sensitive documents, including items marked “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET.” He is accused of negotiating the sale of this material and receiving over $15,000 in payments.
Authorities credit close cooperation between federal agencies and military counterintelligence teams in uncovering the alleged activities. Investigations are ongoing.