A former Army sergeant, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, who previously held top-secret clearance at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for attempting to provide national defense information to China. At 31 years old, Schmidt pleaded guilty in June to charges related to the deliberate transmission and retention of classified materials, as stated by the Department of Justice (DOJ). U.S. District Judge John C. Cogner also mandated three years of supervised release following his prison term.
This sentencing highlights ongoing concerns amongst U.S. officials about China’s expanding efforts to recruit and exploit former military members with access to sensitive information. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd expressed disbelief that veterans would jeopardize their fellow service members and the nation by sharing classified information with a potentially hostile nation.
Schmidt, who enlisted in 2015, served until 2020 in the Army’s 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. Prosecutors referenced that he had privileged access to classified and top-secret systems, and notably, he reached out to Chinese consulate officials after his military service ended.
According to court documents, Schmidt drafted multiple documents based on sensitive materials and handed them over to Chinese security representatives. He retained equipment that facilitated access to secure Army networks, which he allegedly also provided to Chinese officials.
After leaving the Army, he traveled to Hong Kong in March 2020 and maintained connections with sources there. He spent over three years in Hong Kong before arriving in San Francisco in October 2023, where he was promptly arrested. His guilty plea occurred in June 2025, followed by his recent sentencing in Seattle.
Judge Cogner commented on the severity of Schmidt’s actions and his mental health during the crime, with reports indicating that he had left the Army due to mental illness. A DOJ spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the absence of any evidence showing that classified information reached China was considered during sentencing.
W. Mike Herrington, the Special Agent in Charge of the Seattle Field Office, reassured that the FBI and its partners are vigilant in protecting national interests.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg noted that Schmidt crafted documents based on classified national defense data and understood the legal implications, as indicated by web searches he conducted, including queries about facing potential treason charges.
The FBI conducted the investigation with help from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command. There has been no immediate comment from the Army regarding this case.
