Latest news with #ArmyCounterintelligenceCommand
5 days ago
- Politics
Active-duty Army soldier charged with attempting to share sensitive information about military tanks with Russia
An active duty soldier with the U.S. Army was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempting to share sensitive information about U.S. military tank capabilities with Russia, the Justice Department announced. Taylor Lee, 22, a soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, is alleged to have transmitted the information to an individual he believed was affiliated with Russia's government in exchange for Russian citizenship, federal prosecutors said. Lee was arrested on charges of attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary and attempted export of controlled technical data without a license, according to the DOJ. Prosecutors said Lee, who has a top secret security clearance, sent technical information on the M1A2 Abrams tank and offered his assistance to the Russian Federation in an exchange online in May. In that exchange, prosecutors said Lee stated 'the USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses,' before adding, 'at this point I'd even volunteer to assist the Russian federation when I'm there in any way." In July, at an in-person meeting between Lee and the person he apparently believed was a representative of the Russian government, prosecutors said Lee passed an SD memory card to the person, "including documents and information on the M1A2 Abrams, another armored fighting vehicle used by the U.S. military, and combat operations," according to a DOJ press release. "Several of these documents contained controlled technical data that Lee did not have the authorization to provide." In another instance detailed in charging documents, Lee allegedly delivered hardware from inside an M1A2 Abram's tank to a storage unit located in El Paso, Texas, and then texted the individual he believed was a Russian agent, 'Mission accomplished.' Lee has not yet entered a plea to any of the charges. 'This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army,' said Brig. Gen. Sean F. Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command. 'Thanks to the hard work of Army Counterintelligence Command Special Agents and our FBI partners, Soldiers who violate their oath and become insider threats will absolutely be caught and brought to justice, and we will continue to protect Army personnel and safeguard equipment."
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Texas soldier, 22, arrested after allegedly passing sensitive US battle tank info to Russia: feds
A US soldier with top-level security clearance was arrested this week after allegedly attempting to hand over sensitive information about military battle tanks to the Russian government, according to authorities. Private First Class Taylor Adam Lee, 22, an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, allegedly passed on sensitive and classified information to a person he believed was a Russian Ministry of Defense representative, the Department of Justice said in a press release. He was nabbed Wednesday in El Paso on federal charges of attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary and attempted export of controlled technical data, the feds said. Private First Class Taylor Adam Lee allegedly passed on sensitive and classified information to a person he believed was a Russian Ministry of Defense representative. Fort Bliss In June, the alleged two-faced soldier began to transmit classified technical information to the Russian government about the M1A2 Abrams tank online and offered his assistance to the Russian Federation, authorities detailed. Lee holds a top-secret and sensitive compartmented information security clearance, federal agents said. 'The USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses,' Lee allegedly said in a message to a supposed Russian official. 'At this point, I'd even volunteer to assist the Russian Federation when I'm there in any way,' he stated, according to authorities. In July, Lee met up with someone whom he believed to be a Russian official in person, handing over an SD card packed with sensitive information about the M1A2 Abrams tank and another armored vehicle used by the US military, federal agents claimed. Lee was not licensed to obtain several documents on the SD card, and the private continually told the official it contained 'sensitive and likely classified' information, authorities detailed. After discussing a specific piece of internal tank hardware during the in-person meeting, Lee allegedly dropped off the part at a storage unit in El Paso on July 31, sending a 'mission accomplished' message when he was done. Kannapat – After discussing a specific piece of internal tank hardware during the July meeting, he allegedly dropped off the part at a storage unit in El Paso on July 31, sending a 'mission accomplished' message to a supposed Russian contact when he was done, authorities said. 'This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our US Army,' Brigadier General Sean F. Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command, said in a statement. 'Thanks to the hard work of Army Counterintelligence Command Special Agents and our FBI partners, Soldiers who violate their oath and become insider threats will absolutely be caught and brought to justice, and we will continue to protect Army personnel and safeguard equipment,' Stinchon said. Lee made his initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if he retained legal representation.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Economic Times
Does Putin now hold American battle tank secrets? US Army nabs soldier for attempting to share national defense information with Russia
Synopsis A US Army soldier faces charges for allegedly sharing sensitive data with Russia. Lee, stationed at Fort Bliss, is accused of attempting to transmit national defense information. He reportedly shared data about the M1A2 Abrams tank. The FBI and Army Counterintelligence Command are investigating the matter. Speaking about the arrest, Brigadier General Sean F. Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command, said, "This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army." Reuters FILE PHOTO: Members of the U.S Army sit atop an M1A2 Abrams tank near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 13, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo A soldier of the US Army was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly handing over sensitive information pertaining to American battle tanks to the Russian government, according to the US Justice Department. The soldier, identified as Taylor Adam Lee, 22, who holds a top-secret security clearance, is facing two federal charges accusing him of attempting to transmit national defense information and export-controlled technical data without a license, according to court documents, news agency Reuters reported. Lee is an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas. Speaking about the arrest, Brigadier General Sean F. Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command, said, "This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army,' as quoted by FOX News.'Today's arrest is a message to anyone thinking about betraying the U.S.—especially service members who have sworn to protect our homeland. The FBI and our partners will do everything in our power to protect Americans and safeguard classified information,' Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division was quoted by Reuters as saying in a has not yet entered a plea on the charges, which were filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas. Attorney information for Lee was not immediately available. Prosecutors accused Lee of attempting to share information on the operation and vulnerabilities of the M1A2 Abrams, the main U.S. battle tank, with the Russian government in exchange for Russian citizenship. In July 2025, Lee shared an SD card that contained documents and information about the tank and other U.S. military operations with someone he believed to be a Russian intelligence officer. The documents contained technical data Lee was not authorized to provide, and some were marked 'Controlled Unclassified Information,' according to prosecutors.'Soldiers who violate their oath and become insider threats will absolutely be caught and brought to justice, and we will continue to protect Army personnel and safeguard equipment,' said Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command.
