Security News > 2023 > October > DoJ: Ex-soldier tried to pass secrets to China after seeking a 'subreddit about spy stuff'

A former US Army Sergeant with Top Secret US military clearance created a Word document entitled "Important Information to Share with Chinese Government," according to an FBI agent's sworn declaration.

The DoJ said Schmidt retired from active duty in January 2020, traveling to China, then back to the US, then to Istanbul in February 2020, before returning to the US again, and then going back to China in March 2020.

According to special agent Brandon Tower, after Schmidt left for China, he later sent an email to a Chinese state-owned enterprise.

According to the filings, Schmidt used four email addresses, one Yahoo!, one Outlook address, and two Gmail addresses, all attached to the name "Joey Schmidt," "Joe Schmidt," or "Joseph Schmidt," and with the second Gmail address as the recovery email for the first.

Both Gmail addresses were tied to his iCloud account, claims the DoJ. Schmidt used the second Gmail account to book trips to China while he was on active duty, using personal leave to travel there, the DoJ adds.

Special agent Tower went on to claim that "Since his arrival in Hong Kong in early March 2020," Schmidt had been trying to find work in China and a PRC work permit/visa so he could permanently relocate to China.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/10/09/doj_soldier_secrets_china/