Today in Portland, three individuals have been arrested for serious allegations involving national security. Jian Zhao and Li Tian are active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Ruoyu Duan, a former soldier, also faces charges. The arrests followed indictments by federal grand juries in Oregon and Washington.
Tian and Duan are accused of conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property. Zhao faces charges for trying to share sensitive national defense information with unauthorized individuals, alongside similar accusations of bribery and theft.
Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi commented on the matter, saying, “The defendants are accused of betraying our country and weakening our defense.” FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated, especially from service members who have access to crucial military secrets.
Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox from the Army Counterintelligence Command stated that the arrests highlight ongoing foreign threats to U.S. military integrity. He urged all Army members to report any suspicious activities to protect national security.
The indictment details allegations that date back to November 2021. Duan and Tian allegedly conspired to gather sensitive military information, including technical manuals and weapon system details. Tian was reportedly paid to share this information, violating his duties as an officer.
Meanwhile, Zhao is accused of conspiring to obtain national defense information, planning to sell classified hard drives labeled “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” to individuals in China. He reportedly accepted at least $10,000 for this and was also involved in selling stolen military documents and equipment.
Douglas A. Olson, an FBI Special Agent, remarked on the betrayal of trust from current and former service members, highlighting the severe risks their actions posed to national security. W. Mike Herrington from the FBI’s Seattle office condemned the betrayal, reassuring that the FBI remains committed to protecting the nation’s secrets.
The investigations involved cooperation between various agencies, including the FBI and Army Counterintelligence. They are being prosecuted by a team of dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys and trial attorneys from the National Security Division.
It’s important to note that an indictment is simply a formal accusation, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
