A former U.S. Army intelligence sergeant from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) was sentenced this week to four years in federal prison for attempting to deliver national defense information to the Chinese government, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty in June to two felony counts — attempting to deliver national defense information and unlawful retention of national defense information. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour sentenced him to four years in prison and three years of supervised release, citing both the seriousness of the offense and Schmidt’s mental health at the time.
Schmidt served in the U.S. Army from 2015 to 2020 and was assigned to the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at JBLM, where he had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After leaving the Army, Schmidt reached out to Chinese officials — including the Chinese consulate in Turkey — offering to provide national defense information.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and continued efforts to contact Chinese intelligence services. Court filings state he created multiple documents describing “high level secrets” and offered a secure access device that could help Chinese officials gain entry into Department of Defense networks.
Just over two weeks after making contact with Chinese intelligence, Schmidt was granted a work visa for China. He lived primarily in Hong Kong until October 2023, when he flew to San Francisco and was arrested upon arrival.
Prosecutors said Schmidt was aware of what he was doing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg told the court Schmidt conducted web searches such as “Can you be extradited for treason” while preparing to approach Chinese authorities.
U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd called Schmidt’s actions “unconscionable,” saying they put fellow soldiers and the nation at risk.
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office, said Schmidt “betrayed the trust placed in him by handing over classified information to China.”
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.
Schmidt’s case follows a string of espionage-related arrests earlier in 2025 involving soldiers based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In March, two active-duty soldiers and a former service member were charged with conspiring to provide sensitive military information to China. While the Justice Department has not identified any direct link between those cases and Schmidt’s, the incidents have heightened awareness about foreign intelligence efforts targeting personnel with military or defense experience.
Schmidt’s four-year prison term is significantly below the maximum possible sentence of 10 years. Federal prosecutors have not indicated whether any related investigations remain ongoing.
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