An active-duty Fort Bliss soldier was arrested on suspicion of trying to give classified information on M1A2 Abrams Tanks and combat operations to the Russian government, authorities said.
FBI El Paso agents arrested Spc. Taylor Adam Lee, 22, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, on suspicion of attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary and attempted export of controlled technical data without a license, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced in a news release.
"National security has long been one of the highest priorities of the Justice Department, and here in the Western District of Texas, we remain alert for those who wish to help our adversaries and harm the United States,” Simmons said in a statement. “Our enemies, both foreign and domestic, should be aware that we diligently investigate and aggressively prosecute these cases."
Lee is a tank crewman assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, 1st Armored Division spokesman Maj. Art Rodriguez said in a statement.
"1st Armored Division will continue to provide support to interagency partners in this case," the statement said.
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A federal complaint affidavit filed against Lee was not publicly available on federal court records.
“The men and women of the United States military work hard to defend American citizens at home and abroad,” FBI El Paso Acting Special Agent in Charge Britton Boyd said in a statement. “The men and women of the FBI were able to help protect our brave soldiers from future threats with the arrest of Taylor Adam Lee."
Felix Valenzuela, who is listed as Lee's attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Fort Bliss soldier claims 'Mission accomplished'
Lee, who holds a top secret/sensitive compartmented information security clearance, was using his U.S. Army credentials to send U.S. defense information to Russia’s Ministry of Defense since May 2025, the news release states.
Lee allegedly "transmitted export-controlled technical information on the M1A2 Abrams Tank online and offered assistance to the Russian Federation," the news release states.
“The USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses,” Lee allegedly said in a message sent to the Russian government. “At this point, I’d even volunteer to assist the Russian Federation when I’m there in any way.”
Lee met in person with the person he thought was with the Russian government in July and gave the person an SD card, the news release states.
He also provides "a detailed overview of the documents and information contained on the SD card, including documents and information on the M1A2 Abrams, another armored fighting vehicle used by the U.S. military, and combat operations," the news release states.
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Several of the documents contained controlled technical data that Lee did not have the authorization to provide, the news release states. Other documents allegedly given by Lee were marked as "controlled unclassified information" and featured banner warnings and dissemination controls.
Lee allegedly stated at the July meeting that the information on the SD card was sensitive and likely classified. Lee "discussed obtaining and providing to the Russian government a specific piece of hardware inside the M1A2 Abrams tank," the news release states.
On July 31, 2025, Lee allegedly delivered what appeared to be the hardware to a storage unit in El Paso. Lee sent the person a message stating, “Mission accomplished.”
Lee arrested, appears in court
FBI El Paso agents obtained an arrest warrant for Lee on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura Enriquez of the Western District of Texas, court records show. Agents arrested Lee Wednesday morning, Aug. 6.
He appeared before Enriquez at an initial hearing, where he was denied bond, court records show.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command and the FBI El Paso Field Office, the news release states.
"Lee allegedly violated his duty to protect the United States in favor of providing national defense information to the Russian government,” FBI’s Washington Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen said in a statement. “The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to protect U.S. national security and bring to justice those who seek to undermine it.”
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Attorney Menno Goedman for the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Brown and Mallory Rasmussen for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
“This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. 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. If anyone on our Army Team sees suspicious activity, you must report it as soon as possible.”
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Fort Bliss soldier arrested for espionage tied to Russia
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