The FBI announced on Friday that three U.S. service members have been arrested and charged with treason, marking a significant early development under newly appointed Director Kash Patel, who has been in office for less than two weeks.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers and a former soldier were apprehended while allegedly attempting to sell national defense information to individuals linked to China. The arrests followed coordinated investigations across multiple jurisdictions.
The DOJ identified the suspects as Jian Zhao and Li Tian, both active-duty soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, along with Ruoyu Duan, a former Army service member. Their arrests were carried out after federal grand juries in Oregon and Washington issued indictments.
Tian and Duan face charges of bribery and theft of government property in addition to treason. Zhao is charged with conspiracy to transmit national defense information to an unauthorized recipient, a serious national security offense.
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the alleged actions in a statement, accusing the defendants of betraying the country and compromising U.S. defense capabilities. She vowed that the government would pursue strong and decisive legal action against the trio.
FBI Director Kash Patel also issued a public response on X, emphasizing that the individuals would face the full extent of the justice system. He accused them of aiding a foreign adversary by attempting to leak sensitive military intelligence.
In an extended DOJ statement, Patel added that corruption linked to foreign intelligence efforts poses an ongoing threat. He stressed that service members entrusted with classified material must be held to the highest standard of accountability.
According to the indictment filed in the Western District of Washington, Zhao began planning to share national security secrets with contacts in China in mid-2024. Prosecutors allege he transferred information stored on hard drives labeled “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” in exchange for about $10,000.
Zhao is also accused of providing details on U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) as well as assessments of U.S. readiness in the event of a conflict with China. Investigators say he received an additional $15,000 for these disclosures.
If convicted, the defendants could face severe penalties. Federal treason charges can carry a potential death sentence or, at minimum, five years in prison and significant fines. The case continues as Patel settles into his new role, where he has pledged broad reforms within the Bureau.
