A former U.S. Army Sergeant, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, has pleaded guilty to attempting to share military secrets with China. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the plea in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Schmidt, 31, admitted to charges of attempting to deliver national defense information and retaining such information. He could face up to ten years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on September 9, 2025.
Court records reveal that Schmidt served as an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington. His role in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion granted him access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After leaving the military, Schmidt contacted the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later reached out to Chinese security services via email, offering them national defense information.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and continued his attempts to provide classified information obtained during his military service to Chinese intelligence. He created detailed documents outlining “high level secrets” for the Chinese government and retained a device capable of accessing secure military computer networks, which he offered to Chinese authorities.
Schmidt remained primarily in Hong Kong until October 2023 when he flew back to San Francisco and was arrested at the airport.
The offenses of attempting to deliver national defense information and retention of such information carry potential penalties of up to ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine each.
The FBI led the investigation with support from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is handling the prosecution.
