Welcome to Arrest Stories. A sixty-five-year-old former Air Force major with decades of fighter pilot experience was arrested in Indiana after allegedly training Chinese military pilots for over a year. Here's what may have happened.
On February twenty-sixth, twenty twenty-six, Gerald Eddie Brown Junior was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana, following his recent return from China where he had been since December twenty twenty-three. Brown, known by his pilot call sign Runner, served twenty-four years in the United States Air Force before leaving active duty in nineteen ninety-six with the rank of Major.
During his military career, Brown commanded sensitive units with responsibility for nuclear weapons delivery systems and led combat missions as a fighter pilot instructor. He served as a simulator instructor on various fighter and attack aircraft, including time as an F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot. After leaving the military, Brown worked as a commercial cargo pilot.
According to court documents, Brown used a co-conspirator to negotiate training arrangements with Stephen Su Bin, who pleaded guilty in twenty sixteen to conspiring to hack computer networks of major U.S. defense contractors and steal sensitive military data. Bin was sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
Brown traveled to China in December twenty twenty-three to begin training Chinese military pilots and remained there until early February twenty twenty-six when he returned to the United States. FBI agents conducted a search of Brown's property and discovered a fake passport, fake currency, and an old defense contractor badge.
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, according to officials. The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the U.S. armed forces to modernize China's military capabilities.
Brown made his initial court appearance before a magistrate judge in New Albany on February twenty-sixth. Officials described him as presenting the highest risk of flight they have seen for some time.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.