Additional Coverage:
- Texas soldier with top security clearance charged with attempting to pass sensitive tank data to Russia: DOJ (foxnews.com)
El Paso Soldier Accused of Trading Tank Secrets for Russian Citizenship
A US Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, has been arrested and charged with attempting to sell sensitive military information, including details about the M1A2 Abrams tank, to Russia in exchange for citizenship.
Twenty-two-year-old Taylor Adam Lee, who held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance, allegedly communicated online with someone he believed to be a Russian intelligence officer. According to the Justice Department, Lee offered to assist Russia and expressed dissatisfaction with the US.
Prosecutors allege that Lee handed over an SD card containing classified documents about the Abrams tank, another US armored fighting vehicle, and combat operations during a meeting with the supposed Russian representative. Some of the information on the SD card was marked as Controlled Unclassified Information but still subject to dissemination controls. Lee allegedly acknowledged the sensitive nature of the information.
Authorities say Lee also discussed providing a specific piece of hardware from inside the M1A2 Abrams tank and later delivered what appeared to be that hardware to a storage unit in El Paso, subsequently messaging “Mission accomplished” to his contact.
“This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army,” warned Brigadier General Sean F.
Stinchon, commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command. FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky echoed this sentiment, adding, “Today’s arrest is a message to anyone thinking about betraying the U.S. – especially service members who have sworn to protect our homeland.”
Lee’s arrest coincided with a separate incident at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where a soldier shot five fellow soldiers. Sgt.
Quornelius Radford, 28, is in custody following the shooting. All injured soldiers were treated and transported to Winn Army Community Hospital.