A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss has been arrested for allegedly trying to pass classified military information to Russia, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
Spc. Taylor Adam Lee, 22, a tank crewman with the 1st Armored Division, is accused of attempting to transmit technical data on M1A2 Abrams tanks and other armored vehicles to someone he believed worked for the Russian Ministry of Defense. Lee holds a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
Federal prosecutors say Lee began contact in May and, by June, had sent sensitive information online. He allegedly wrote, “The USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses,” and offered to assist Russia “in any way.”
In July, Lee allegedly handed over a secure memory card containing restricted technical details and later delivered what appeared to be a tank component to a storage unit in El Paso. He then messaged, “Mission accomplished,” according to court documents.
He is charged with attempting to transmit national defense information under the Espionage Act and attempting to export controlled technical data without a license under the Arms Export Control Act. The Justice Department is seeking his detention without bond. His legal representation has not been confirmed.
Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, said the unit is supporting the investigation but referred inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
The FBI and Army Counterintelligence Command are jointly investigating the case. Prosecutors did not confirm whether the intended recipient was a foreign agent or part of a U.S. sting operation.
Lee made his initial court appearance Wednesday in El Paso.
