In a stunning betrayal of our nation, a former Air Force pilot has been arrested for allegations of training Chinese military pilots without authorization.
Gerald Eddie Brown Jr. was taken into custody on Wednesday.
He is facing serious federal charges that carry a significant prison sentence.
Here are the details:
🚨 BREAKING: The FBI just arrested former U.S. Air Force instructor pilot Gerald Eddie Brown Jr. for allegedly training CHINESE MILITARY PILOTS to fight against America
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 26, 2026
There is a word for this kind of betrayal.
SHOW NO MERCY! pic.twitter.com/ilRTXSYEyo
The FBI released this statement:
CASE UPDATE from @NewYorkFBI: Former U.S. Air Force Pilot Arrested for Providing Defense Services to the Chinese Military https://t.co/JhwhJHS83v@FBILouisville @FBIIndianapolis and @FBILosAngeles provided assistance in this case. pic.twitter.com/3KElqci05y
— FBI (@FBI) February 25, 2026
Specifically, Brown Jr. has been charged with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization, which violates the Arms Export Control Act.
Fox News reported:
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., whose call sign is “Runner,” was taken into custody in Jeffersonville, Ind., and charged with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization.
Prosecutors allege Brown violated the Arms Export Control Act, a federal law that regulates the export of U.S. defense articles, services and military technology and requires government approval before they can be shared with foreign governments or nationals.
“The United States Air Force trained Major Brown to be an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defense of our Nation. He now stands charged with training Chinese military pilots,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said. “When U.S. persons – whether military or civilian – provide training to a foreign military, that activity is illegal unless they have a license from the State Department.”
The DOJ alleges that since “at least in or around August 2023,” Brown “willfully conspired” with foreign nationals and other U.S. persons to provide combat aircraft training to pilots in the Chinese Air Force, known as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
Prosecutors say the training required State Department approval under federal export regulations, and Brown did not have a license to provide it to a foreign military.
Brown served more than 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, according to the DOJ, leaving active duty in 1996 with the rank of major.
Here’s his mugshot:
🚨🇺🇸🇨🇳 Former Air Force Major Gerald "Runner" Brown arrested for training Chinese military pilots without authorization.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 26, 2026
Brown was an F-35 instructor pilot with 24 years of experience flying F-4s, F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s.
He traveled to China in 2023 and spent his first day… pic.twitter.com/1da9dhZRBM
Brown Jr. left the United States to train military pilots in China back in 2023.
He did not return to America until earlier this month.
The New York Post has more:
Around August 2023, Brown used a co-conspirator to negotiate a contract with a Chinese national to train military pilots for the People’s Republic of China (PRC), according to the criminal complaint against him.
The Chinese national, Stephen Su Bin, had previously pled guilty to conspiring to steal sensitive US military data from US defense contractors and his company was listed by the US government as a known entity of the Chinese government.
Throughout negotiations, Brown “consistently stated his intent to train PRC military pilots in combat aircraft operations,” according to the DOJ.
“Now…. I have the chance to fly and instruct fighter pilots again!” Brown allegedly wrote in a message to his co-conspirator when he arrived in China in December 2023.
Brown remained in China until he traveled back to the US in early February 2026.
“Gerald Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot with decades of experience flying US military aircraft, allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect,” Roman Rozhavsky, the assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, said in a statement.
“The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the US armed forces to modernize China’s military capabilities,” Rozhavsky warned. “This arrest serves as a warning that the FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who collaborates with our adversaries to harm our service members and jeopardize our national security.”
US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Brown “betrayed the country” and “jeopardized the safety of our servicemembers and allies.”
What a traitor.
Prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law!
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.
