Seattle – A former U.S. Army Sergeant, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four years in prison for selling classified national security information to China, according to U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Schmidt, who last served at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), pleaded guilty to attempting to deliver and retaining national defense information in June 2025.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour cited the severity of Schmidt’s crime and his mental state during the offense when imposing the sentence. Floyd, a retired Army officer, labeled it “unconscionable” for a former soldier to risk colleagues and country by selling secret intelligence to a foreign power.
“Mr. Schmidt swore an oath to protect the United States,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Instead, he betrayed that trust by handing over classified information to China.” The FBI vowed to remain vigilant against such threats, uncovering and holding accountable those who endanger national security.
Records show Schmidt served from January 2015 to January 2020 at JBLM, where he had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After leaving the military, he contacted the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later offered classified information via email to Chinese security services.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong to continue his efforts. He created detailed documents offering “high-level secrets” to the Chinese government and provided a device for accessing secure military computer networks. Just 17 days after reaching out to Chinese intelligence contacts, he received a visa for China. Schmidt was arrested upon arrival in San Francisco in October 2023.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg noted Schmidt’s searches for “Can you be extradited for treason” and his creation of documents based on classified information. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, while Herrington prosecuted it.
RELATED: Ex-Sgt. Schmidt Sentenced to Four Years for Spying for China
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Weapons|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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