Former Army soldier sentenced for selling military documents to Chinese national
A former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, Korbein Schultz, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for providing sensitive U.S. military information to a person he believed was affiliated with the Chinese government. Schultz, 25, of Wills Point, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for non-public U.S. government information.
From May 2022 to his arrest in March 2024, Schultz engaged in a conspiracy to provide dozens of sensitive U.S. military documents to a foreign national in China. These documents contained export-controlled tactical and technical information, including operational orders, lessons learned from conflicts, technical manuals for military aircraft and missile systems, and information on military exercises and defense systems. Despite knowing that the individual he was giving information to was likely connected to the Chinese government, Schultz continued the relationship in exchange for $42,000.
The Chinese national first contacted Schultz through a freelance web-based work platform, posing as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm. As the relationship progressed, the demands for specific and sensitive information increased, with the individual requesting technical manuals, operational procedures, and intelligence assessments. Schultz agreed to provide higher levels of classified information in exchange for money, accessing restricted databases to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive U.S. military documents.
Schultz also attempted to recruit a fellow Army intelligence analyst into the conspiracy, who was assigned to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Indo-Pacific Command at the time. The two discussed the need to recruit another individual with better access to classified material, emphasizing the importance of secrecy in their actions.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that Schultz betrayed his oath to defend the U.S., putting America’s military and service members at risk. She emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to combatting China’s efforts to target the U.S. military and ensuring that those who leak military secrets face consequences.
FBI Director Kash Patel warned that service members are a prime target for espionage by the People’s Republic of China. He emphasized the FBI’s determination to root out espionage and hold accountable those who betray their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.
In conclusion, Schultz’s sentencing serves as a warning to individuals who betray their country by leaking sensitive information. The U.S. government remains vigilant in protecting national security and will continue to prosecute those who engage in espionage activities.
