U.S. authorities have arrested former American pilot Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., known as “Runner,” in Indiana on charges of illegally training Chinese military pilots, the Justice Department said.

Brown was arrested in Jeffersonville and charged with conspiracy and providing defense services to Chinese pilots without a U.S. government license.

Prosecutors said Brown “knowingly conspired” since August 2023 with foreign nationals and other U.S. citizens to provide fighter jet training to pilots of the Chinese air force, also known as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

Media reports said Brown had previously trained U.S. air force personnel on advanced fighter jets, including the F-35.

There was no immediate comment from Brown’s attorney or from the Chinese embassy in Washington.