At first, Tian despatched the opposite particular person paperwork associated to actual property investments on the East Coast of the US, referred to in courtroom data as a “white paper.” With Duan appearing as a center man getting cash from a PayPal account primarily based in China, Tian was reportedly paid $1,500 for the paperwork.
Based on courtroom paperwork filed final week in U.S. District Courtroom in Western Washington and Oregon, that was the beginnings of a years-long conspiracy the place Tian and one other soldier primarily based at JBLM, Sgt. Jian Zhao, gathered and offered delicate U.S. army data to Duan and people in China.
Among the many paperwork allegedly handed over had been excerpts of technical manuals for working an artillery system used on battlefields in Ukraine and copies of PowerPoint displays specifying the positions of army personnel in a Stryker fight car. Video footage from inside Zhao’s workplace at JBLM in November 2024 additionally allegedly confirmed him taking images of a doc pertaining to a army train simulating a battle with the Individuals’s Republic of China.
“Do you know how risky this is?!?” Zhao informed a person in China whereas allegedly attempting to promote one other delicate army doc in October.
“If I were in your position, I would not dare,” the particular person replied.
Zhao is also accused of promoting arduous drives, some labeled and a few labeled “SECRET,” for hundreds of {dollars} and sending them on to an individual in China from his DuPont residence.
Zhao’s indictment alleges that he accepted about $15,000 in trade for gathering data for a co-conspirator purporting to reside in Changchun in Northeast China.
Based on copies of Duan and Tian’s indictments, Duan accepted about $38,500 from two PayPal accounts primarily based in China between June 2021 and April 2023. He allegedly acquired about $14,600 from two accounts on Zelle, a cellular fee app, between June 2023 and July 2024.
Duan and Tian are charged in U.S. District Courtroom in Oregon with conspiring to bribe a public official and steal authorities property. Zhao is charged in U.S. District Courtroom in Western Washington with conspiring to collect, transmit or lose nationwide protection data, in addition to bribery of a public official and theft of presidency property.
Particular Agent Mike Herrington with the FBI Seattle Discipline Workplace stated in a press briefing Thursday that investigators had gathered extra data, and it’s doable prices may very well be added.
Capt. Li Tian’s alleged involvement
Right here’s how courtroom paperwork filed to this point describe Tian’s alleged involvement:
Additionally despatched to Duan that day was a PowerPoint a couple of Division of Protection social media discussion board, Military mission necessities and technique. It’s unclear what a fifth PDF doc despatched to Duan pertained to. It was titled “stp91s13.pdf,” and data state its markings confirmed it was solely approved to be distributed to U.S. authorities businesses and their contractors as a result of it contained delicate supplies.
The identical day, Tian and Duan talked on Fb Messenger.
“Please provide the tm (technical manuals) of the vehicles sent there. It is for writing an article,” Duan stated.
“I don’t have access. Will need to wait until Monday,” Tian stated.
Tian requested Duan to ship him a listing of the fashions he was in search of. Tian stated it couldn’t be downloaded, and it needed to be seemed up on AESIP, the Military Enterprise Programs Integration Program Hub, which Tian stated solely “chief” had entry to.
Tian later stated his “supply” had entry, who he known as “a guy from Beijing.” Duan stated he would take them out to eat subsequent time. Tian “liked” the message.
Afterward of their dialog, Duan appeared to ask Tian if he occurred to have technical manuals for German army automobiles, resembling a Leopard 1, a tank, or a “Weasel,” possible referring to the Wiesel Armored Weapons Provider. Tian stated he undoubtedly didn’t have these. Duan as a substitute requested for American automobiles.
“I first want an M 1126 Stryker infantry vehicle, an MI 09 howitzer, and M2 Bradley fighting vehicle,” Duan wrote. “I saw Armytimes also mentioned the Patriot, but I don’t understand that stuff at all and cannot write anything.”
On Feb. 24, 2023, Duan and Tian had one other trade on Fb Messenger.
“I see that nothing happened after you said you’d ask the chief,” Duan wrote. “Don’t worry if it can’t be done. I can find materials on wiki or reddit.”
“The main thing is not to get in trouble,” Duan added. “It is not easy to get to this point in the army.”
“Downloaded,” Tian replied. “Don’t be anxious. I’m out and will send it to you when I get back.”
The following month, March 29, 2023 Duan messaged Tian that he stored forgetting to provide him “the material fees.” He supplied “500.” The identical day, Duan accepted $2,500 from a PayPal account primarily based in China, and he then despatched $500 to Tian on PayPal.
Sgt. Jian Zhao’s alleged involvement
Right here’s how courtroom paperwork filed to this point describe Zhao’s alleged involvement:
Zhao seems to have been looped into the conspiracy by at the least April 27, 2023. Based on the Military’s public affairs workplace on the Pentagon, that was six years after he joined the Military as a unit provide specialist, and three years after he grew to become stationed at JBLM.
Months later, in October 2023, Duan linked Zhao to international nationwide dwelling in China, recognized in a courtroom submitting solely as “Conspirator 3.” The foreigner launched himself as a pal of Duan over WeChat.
“Boss Duan says you have things to sell. Mind telling what you have,” one message to Zhao stated.
In November 2023, one other particular person launched himself to Zhao over WeChat as a pal of Duan. Recognized as S.Ok.Ok. in courtroom data, the particular person informed Zhao he’d purchased tools from him by way of Duan. He stated he specialised in any such enterprise in China, made a number of million {dollars} a 12 months and wished to collaborate.
Then in July 2024, Zhao and the international nationwide Duan had linked him with started discussing the sale of an encryption-capable pc. The 2 talked pricing till Oct. 13 when Zhao acquired $1,000 for it by way of WeChat. The international nationwide acquired it by Dec. 4.
Additionally in July, Zhao mentioned promoting labeled arduous drives with S.Ok.Ok. and despatched him a photograph of 20 of them. Zhao then spoke with the international nationwide in regards to the arduous drives over WeChat. Zhao stated he didn’t know the contents of the arduous drives and couldn’t assure something. They agreed to a worth of $10,000, with half as a down fee and half paid on supply.
The international nationwide confirmed he acquired them Sept. 12. He later knowledgeable Zhao the customer had solely gotten 19 arduous drives, three of which had been corrupted. The customer wished to pay $500 lower than what they’d agreed on. Zhao went together with it, however he reportedly stated he’d by no means promote to this purchaser once more.
The following month, Zhao and the international nationwide began to speak in regards to the sale of delicate U.S. army paperwork. Over WeChat, Zhao stated he had “good stuff” Oct. 11 and requested the opposite to get a quote from a purchaser earlier than he would identify his worth.
“Ok. Done. Recall,” the person in China replied. “This needs some time. This is way top [we] must be very very careful.”
“Very sensitive document. Super difficult to get,” Zhao stated.
As the 2 settled on a worth over a pair weeks, tensions appeared to rise.
After the international nationwide informed Zhao on Oct. 22 {that a} purchaser stated one of many paperwork was value $2,000 and he recommended Zhao promote two paperwork as a bundle, Zhao stated he wouldn’t take into account it.
“[Expletive] this world,” Zhao stated. “I’m not selling, brother.”
After a voice name, the international nationwide stated he would ask extra and discover “high level people.” The following day, the international nationwide nonetheless pushed promoting the paperwork as a bundle. Zhao reportedly stated the second doc wasn’t on the market.
“I can’t afford to make this person angry,” the international nationwide replied. “Don’t play me boss. At the beginning you did say two documents. You said go find high level people yesterday.”
The 2 continued to debate Zhao sending each paperwork, and on Oct. 27, video footage from Zhao’s workplace at JBLM confirmed him depart the room emptyhanded, then return with two paperwork he laid on his desk.
One was referred to as “Strategic and Operation Rockets and Missiles.” It was thought-about managed unclassified data, which might solely be distributed to the Division of Protection and its contractors. The second doc was equally labeled, and it described a command publish train designed to boost U.S. fight readiness with multinational companions.
At 12:27 p.m. that day, Zhao allegedly informed the international nationwide by way of WeChat he was “doing it now.” Video footage then confirmed him utilizing his cellphone to scan the primary doc web page by web page.
Later that day, Zhao confirmed he transferred all of the paperwork. The international nationwide informed Zhao he could be paid in three days. Zhao later acquired $4,500 in three funds.
Over the subsequent month, video footage from Zhao’s workplace at JBLM confirmed him taking photos of a delicate doc and movies of his authorities pc display screen 3 times. The doc he photographed was a couple of army train simulating a battle with the Individuals’s Republic of China. It’s unclear what he was videotaping on his pc display screen. One video he took Nov. 7 was reportedly of an excel file he scrolled by way of.
In December, Zhao informed the international nationwide he had a “90-page manual” he was keen to promote for $1,500. The following day, Dec. 5, Zhao was informed a purchaser would intention to pay him in seven to 10 days. And on Dec. 19, Zhao was paid $2,000.
