An active-duty soldier was arrested on charges of attempting to release national defense information to Russian intelligence.Taylor Lee, 22, was arrested in El Paso on two charges related to the attempted intelligence transmission. The FBI took Lee into custody on Wednesday, Aug. 6.Lee is charged with attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary and attempted export of controlled technical data without a license.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 NewsThe FBI found Lee allegedly tried to provide classified military information on U.S. tank vulnerabilities to someone believed to be a Russian intelligence officer. That information was being shared in exchange for Russian citizenship, according to Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division.Lee did hold top secret and sensitive compartmented information security clearance, according to court documents. The FBI also found Lee established his U.S. Army credentials to send defense information to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.A meeting was found to happen between Lee and someone he believed to a Russian government representative. Lee is alleged to have passed an SD card to that person, which provided an overview on two U.S. fighting vehicles and combat operations.It was also found Lee transported and delivered what appeared to be a hard drive to a storage unit in El Paso. Lee then messaged the alleged Russian representative stating, “Mission accomplished.”The FBI Washington and El Paso Field Offices are investigating the espionage case. The U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command also assisted in the investigation.Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
An active-duty soldier was arrested on charges of attempting to release national defense information to Russian intelligence.
Taylor Lee, 22, was arrested in El Paso on two charges related to the attempted intelligence transmission. The FBI took Lee into custody on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
Lee is charged with attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary and attempted export of controlled technical data without a license.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 News
The FBI found Lee allegedly tried to provide classified military information on U.S. tank vulnerabilities to someone believed to be a Russian intelligence officer. That information was being shared in exchange for Russian citizenship, according to Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division.
Lee did hold top secret and sensitive compartmented information security clearance, according to court documents. The FBI also found Lee established his U.S. Army credentials to send defense information to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
A meeting was found to happen between Lee and someone he believed to a Russian government representative. Lee is alleged to have passed an SD card to that person, which provided an overview on two U.S. fighting vehicles and combat operations.
It was also found Lee transported and delivered what appeared to be a hard drive to a storage unit in El Paso. Lee then messaged the alleged Russian representative stating, “Mission accomplished.”
The FBI Washington and El Paso Field Offices are investigating the espionage case. The U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command also assisted in the investigation.
Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
