Lee is accused of logging on and providing to help Russian authorities in alternate for Russian citizenship.
An energetic obligation soldier has been charged with looking for to go delicate details about america Military’s principal battle tank to the Russian authorities, the US Justice Division has introduced.
The suspect, Taylor Adam Lee, has been charged with “tried transmission of nationwide protection data to a international adversary and tried export of managed technical information with no license”, the Justice Division mentioned in a press release on Wednesday.
Lee, a 22-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas, has but to enter a plea within the prices, filed on the US District Courtroom for the Western District of Texas.
John A Eisenberg, assistant legal professional normal for nationwide safety, mentioned Lee sought to “transmit delicate nationwide protection data to Russia” concerning the operation of the M1A2 Abrams – the primary battle tank utilized by the US Military.
In June, Lee is alleged to have gone on-line and supplied help to Russia in alternate for Russian citizenship. Within the alleged messages, Lee, who holds a top-secret safety clearance, allegedly “transmitted export-controlled technical data” concerning the M1A2’s operation and vulnerabilities.
“The USA will not be pleased with me for attempting to show their weaknesses,” Lee reportedly mentioned. “At this level, I’d even volunteer to help the Russian Federation after I’m there in any means,” he added.
Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI’s counterintelligence division, mentioned Lee then shared a reminiscence card containing paperwork and details about the tank and different US army operations throughout an in-person assembly in July with somebody he believed to be a Russian intelligence officer.
“Right this moment’s arrest is a message to anybody desirous about betraying the US – particularly service members who’ve sworn to guard our homeland,” Rozhavsky mentioned.
The paperwork contained technical information Lee was not authorised to supply, with some marked “Managed Unclassified Data”, based on prosecutors.
“All through the assembly, Lee acknowledged that the data on the SD card was delicate and sure categorised,” prosecutors mentioned.
Lee can also be alleged to have tried to supply the Russian authorities with a bit of {hardware} from the M1A2 Abrams tank at a July 31 assembly at a storage unit in El Paso, Texas.
“After doing so, Lee despatched a message to the person he believed to be a consultant of the Russian authorities stating, ‘Mission achieved’,” based on prosecutors.