WASHINGTON: A retired US Army personnel was captured on Friday for trying to provide secret information to China, the US Justice Department claimed.
Joseph Daniel Schmidt, who served in the US army intelligence unit from 2015 to 2020, is charged with recollecting defense information and trying to provide it to China, AFP reported.
Ex-US Army Personnel Apprehended for Trying to Provide defense information to China
The Justice Department stated Schmidt, following leaving the army, offered defense information to the China’s consulate in Turkey and the security services of China.
In March 2020, the former solider, who had access to classified information while working in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion in Washington, visited Hong Kong, where he “continued his attempt to deliver Chinese intelligence with the defense information.”
The US Justice Department added, “The retired soldier allegedly retained an instrument that permits for access to secure army computer networks and offered the instrument to Chinese officials to assist them in attempts to gain access to such networks,”.
He could face up to 20 years in jail. Schmidt’s arrest comes 60-day following two personnel of the US Navy were captured on suspicion of spying for Beijing
