A former Navy service member will spend more than a decade in federal prison for plotting a violent attack against a U.S. military base and attempting to assist a foreign adversary.
According to Military.com, Xuanyu Harry Pang, 39, was sentenced to 12 years on Thursday in a federal courtroom for attempting to destroy defense sites and conspiring to aid Iran by surveilling military targets and attempting to smuggle radioactive material into the United States for use in a dirty bomb attack.
Pang, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from China, was convicted in federal court in Illinois. He served briefly in the U.S. Navy and trained at Naval Station Great Lakes—the very location he later plotted to target. According to federal prosecutors, Pang first came under investigation in 2022 after he was mentioned in communications between an undercover FBI agent and a Colombian-based contact with known terrorist links. The Colombian individual described Pang, referring to him as "Harry,” as a trusted contact based in Chicago.
In messages dating back to 2021, Pang and the Colombian contact, known as Individual A, discussed potential targets and tactics for attacks in the United States. One exchange from January 2022 included a reference to a planned event in the "gringa capital" that would be more impactful than the 9/11 attacks. Pang responded by indicating he would keep his family away from the area and reinforced his commitment to secrecy.
Court Details Plot to Harm U.S. Targets
Pang reportedly believed he was cooperating with a member of the Iranian Quds Force, a military division designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. In truth, he was communicating with an undercover FBI operative during the course of the investigation.
He admitted to photographing and recording both the interior and exterior of Naval Station Great Lakes. He provided military uniforms and a phone designed to function as an explosive trigger to the FBI agent, whom he believed was preparing for a terrorist operation. Authorities say Pang also surveyed potential civilian targets, including high-traffic areas in Chicago such as Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park. He described crowded conditions and suggested that even a lone individual could inflict mass casualties with rapid gunfire.
Pang Hoped for a Large Financial Reward
Federal agents learned that Pang expected substantial payment—potentially millions of dollars—for his assistance in selecting targets and facilitating plots. He also worked on helping smuggle deadly radioactive substances like polonium into the country. Though none of Pang's plans involving dirty bombs or more widespread destruction came to fruition, the scope of his support and the danger posed drew criticism from prosecutors and the court.
They described his conduct as self-serving and extremely dangerous. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Bond and Vikas Didwania said Pang's actions could have caused massive loss of life and a critical blow to national safety. They called for severe punishment while noting the unprecedented betrayal Pang posed as a former service member.
Judge Cites History in Delivering Sentence
U.S. District Judge Jeremy Daniel, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, acknowledged historical military tragedies while considering Pang’s case. Citing the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Daniel said Pang’s betrayal of fellow troops echoed past acts of major terror against American forces.
"Here, Mr. Pang, a service member himself, had raised his hand not to swear an oath to the Constitution but to participate in an attack," Judge Daniel said. He ultimately imposed a sentence of 12 years, slightly below the prosecution’s original request of just over 13 years. The court held part of the sentencing hearing in private to discuss sealed materials. Prosecutors stated that Pang had provided cooperation on additional issues related to national security, but withheld details due to ongoing investigations and concerns for Pang's safety.
Defense Argues Mental Instability Played a Role
Pang’s attorney, William Hardwicke, filed sealed documents with the court, including a personal letter from Pang to the judge. In open court, Hardwicke argued that Pang’s actions occurred during a severe psychological downturn compounded by substance abuse. Hardwicke described the case as unusual, stating that Pang's actions were outside any normal behavioral framework. He called the conduct criminal but also “bizarre and inept,” claiming it was a departure from Pang’s usual character. Despite these claims, prosecutors pushed back. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Didwania said Pang had shown careful planning and knew the full extent of what he was doing. He dismissed the idea that Pang was merely misguided.
Attack Planning Began After Enlistment
Officials stated that Pang enlisted in the U.S. Navy on February 1, 2022, not long after discussing the escalation of a planned attack. His training at Naval Station Great Lakes, which houses over 20,000 personnel and civilians, gave him access and knowledge he later tried to exploit. Phone data recovered by the FBI revealed detailed, long-running conversations between Pang and Individual A. Starting in 2021, the pair discussed targeting military and civilian sites and delivering maximum destruction.
As part of his plea agreement, Pang admitted to attempting to provide material support by delivering gear and communication devices for potential use in terror operations. He was charged under a sealed complaint in 2022 and entered a guilty plea the following year.
Historical Parallels and Security Impact Point to Serious Threat
Federal agents stressed that even though Pang did not carry out any attacks, his intent and actions posed a significant threat to the country. They likened the seriousness of the case to the most dangerous national security breaches in recent history. The case marks the second time in recent years that Naval Station Great Lakes has been connected to terror-related investigations. In 2019, two Illinois men, Edward Schimenti and Joseph Jones, were charged in a separate plot involving the base. Unlike that incident, however, Pang had direct access to the facility and used his brief time in service to provide visual data and supplies that could have advanced a credible threat had federal agents not intervened when they did.
