Army Sergeant Sentenced for Selling Classified Information

A former Army intelligence sergeant has been sentenced to four years in prison for attempting to sell America’s military secrets to Communist China, exposing critical vulnerabilities in our national security apparatus.

Story Summary

Joseph Daniel Schmidt received four years in prison for trying to deliver classified information to Chinese intelligence
The former sergeant actively pursued employment as a Chinese intelligence asset for three years
Schmidt retained a device capable of accessing secure military networks after leaving the Army
His betrayal occurred during a mental health crisis following his military separation

Deliberate Betrayal of American Military Secrets

Joseph Daniel Schmidt, a former U.S. Army intelligence sergeant, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for attempting to deliver classified military information to Chinese intelligence services. Schmidt served as a team leader in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord from 2015 to 2020, where he held security clearance for secret and top secret information. After separating from the Army in early 2020, he immediately contacted the Chinese Consulate in Turkey, offering to sell America’s military secrets to our nation’s primary adversary.

Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong in March 2020 and spent three years in China attempting to establish himself as a permanent intelligence asset. He created documents containing classified information and offered Chinese handlers a device capable of accessing secure U.S. military networks. This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment but a sustained campaign to undermine American security interests.

“It’s unconscionable for a former soldier to put his colleagues and country at risk by peddling secret information and intelligence access to a hostile foreign power.”

Acting U.S. attorney on ex-Army sergeant Joseph Schmidt, who tried to give defense secrets to China. pic.twitter.com/HUHGrp7B9F

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 29, 2025

Mental Health Crisis Enables Enemy Infiltration

Schmidt’s treacherous actions occurred during a documented mental health decline following his military separation. While mental health challenges deserve compassion and support, they cannot excuse deliberate acts of treason against the United States. The intersection of psychological distress and access to classified information creates dangerous vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries actively exploit. China’s intelligence services specifically target individuals experiencing personal crises, knowing they represent potential security breaches.

U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd condemned Schmidt’s actions as “unconscionable” and emphasized the threat to national security. FBI Special Agent Herrington stressed the severe breach of trust, while Brigadier General Rhett R. Cox stated Schmidt’s betrayal was not a lapse in judgment but a deliberate choice. These statements underscore how mental health struggles, while serious, cannot justify selling out America’s military secrets to Communist China.

Ex-Army sergeant sentenced for trying to give state secrets to China after mental health spiral https://t.co/bt1lTBIVYp pic.twitter.com/hWW5O7JmUI

— New York Post (@nypost) October 29, 2025

Ongoing Chinese Intelligence Threats Exposed

Schmidt’s case reveals the persistent threat posed by Chinese intelligence operations targeting American military personnel. The FBI investigation showed Schmidt actively communicated with Chinese officials and media while residing in China from 2020 to 2023. His Chinese visa was not renewed in October 2023, forcing his return to the United States, where he was arrested at San Francisco International Airport. This demonstrates China’s calculated approach to recruiting American intelligence assets and their willingness to discard operatives when convenient.

The case highlights critical gaps in post-service monitoring of former intelligence personnel and the need for enhanced mental health support systems. Schmidt pleaded guilty in June 2025 to two felony counts: attempting to deliver national defense information and retaining classified materials. His four-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, sends a clear message that betraying America’s secrets carries serious consequences, regardless of personal circumstances.

Watch the report: Former JBLM soldier pleads guilty after attempting to share defense information to China