A former U.S. Army intelligence analyst has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sending classified military information to a person he believed was working for the Chinese government.
Korbein Schultz, 25, from Wills Point, Texas was arrested in March 2024 at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where he was serving with the 506th Infantry Battalion.
He pleaded guilty to six federal charges in August 2024. These included conspiracy to pass national defense information, exporting military data without permission, and accepting money in return for government secrets.
According to court documents, between May 2022 and March 2024, Schultz gave at least 92 sensitive military documents to a foreign national living in China. The person contacted him through a freelance job website.
Posing as someone from a consulting firm, the contact asked Schultz for details about U.S. military operations, especially related to China, Taiwan, and the war in Ukraine in exchange for about $42,000.
Schultz reportedly provided information on a wide range of topics. He sent technical manuals for U.S. weapons like the HH-60 helicopter, the F-22A fighter jet, and intercontinental ballistic missiles. He shared his Army unit’s classified plans before their deployment to Europe for NATO support, along with internal military assessments on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He also leaked documents about missile defense systems like HIMARS and THAAD, U.S. military exercises in South Korea and the Philippines, and strategies for defending Taiwan. Some of the information included details on counter-drone operations and Chinese military tactics.
Federal investigators said Schultz used government networks to access and download the materials. Officials also said Schultz tried to recruit another Army analyst to help, hoping they could get even more sensitive information. That person worked at Indo-Pacific Command, the U.S. military’s headquarters covering China and its region.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Schultz “betrayed” the country for money. “The Justice Department remains vigilant against China’s efforts to target our military and will ensure that those who leak military secrets spend years behind bars,” Bondi added.
“This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.
