Ex-Army sergeant indicted for attempting to give China classified information

Former Army Sergeant Joseph Daniel Schmidt was arrested Friday in San Diego, California on charges that he unlawfully got classified documents and attempted to deliver them to China's security services.

“Individuals entrusted with national defense information have a continuing duty to protect that information beyond their government service and certainly beyond our borders,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen, according to a Justice Department press release. 

After leaving the army, Schmidt allegedly traveled to Hong Kong and reached out to China's consulate in Turkey and later to China's security services where he offered the classified information. 

He could face up to ten years in prison, according to ABC News. As of press time, he has not entered a plea. 

“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 to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington.

“I commend the FBI for their diligent work to end his alleged efforts to betray our country," she added.