US arrests Indian-origin advisor Ashley Tellis for allegedly storing 1,000+ pages of secret defense documents
A respected advisor of Indian origin has been jailed by the United States. This is on suspicion of illegally keeping national defense data. After investigations, US authorities filed an affidavit stating that they had discovered over 1,000 pages of sensitive documents at Ashley Tellis's Virginia home.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 15: According to court records released this week, a well-known US expert of Indian origin and longtime advisor on South Asia policy has been placed under custody. This is for allegedly meeting with Chinese government officials and storing confidential documents. According to the Justice Department, Ashley Tellis can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined $250,000.
Discovery of secret files in locked cabinets and bags
Ashley Tellis is 64 years old. He was accused by the Justice Department of illegally keeping national defense material. It includes over a thousand pages of top secret and secret documents discovered in his Vienna, Virginia home.
According to court documents, Tellis entered, printed, and took classified documents out of the State Department and Defense Department in September and October of 2025. He allegedly printed sensitive documents about US military aircraft capabilities and left the facility with a leather suitcase.
Secret documents were found in various locations throughout his house. It includes locked filing cabinets, a desk in his basement office, and even black trash bags in a storage closet. They were discovered during a search warrant. It was carried out on October 11.
The FBI affidavit states that because of his government positions, Tellis had a Top Secret security clearance and access to Sensitive Compartmented Information.
Accused of secret meetings with Chinese officials
According to the affidavit, Tellis met with Chinese government representatives many times between September 2022 and September 2025 at Fairfax, Virginia. The affidavit claims that on September 15, 2022, "Tellis entered the restaurant with a manila envelope" that "did not appear" to be in his hand when he left.
The affidavit also states that Tellis was supposed to leave for Rome with his family on the evening of October 11. It was the day the search warrant was carried out, for a work engagement. He was supposed to return via Milan on October 27.
Tellis previously served in Bush administration
Ashley Tellis has served under several administrations. He is regarded as an expert on US-India ties. He was a member of President George W. Bush's National Security Council. Tellis is named in an FBI document as a contractor with the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment. He is also an unpaid adviser to the State Department.
US Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia said, “We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic. The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens” in a statement.
Tellis's attorney, Deborah Curtis said, "We look forward to the hearing, where we'll be able to present evidence” regarding the case.
Tellis’s long career in US policy and security roles
Tellis is an experienced policy strategist. He began working for the US government in 2001. He has provided South Asian and Indian policy advice to both Democratic and Republican administrations. Tellis’s arrest comes at a time when Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, and the Trump administration have taken a harsh stand against the improper handling of secret material. They promise to investigate violators "without exception."
