Former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Sgt. Korbein Schultz has been sentenced to seven years in prison after selling over 90 classified military documents to a Chinese contact for $42,000, revealing sensitive information about missile systems and military operations.
At a Glance
- Sgt. Korbein Schultz was sentenced to seven years in prison for selling at least 92 classified military documents to a Chinese contact
- He received $42,000 for the documents, which included technical manuals for missile systems and information on U.S. military operations
- Schultz pleaded guilty to six criminal counts, including conspiracy to obtain and transmit national defense data
- He faced up to 65 years in prison but received a lesser sentence, plus three years of supervised release
- He was arrested in March 2024 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky after attempting to recruit another intelligence officer to obtain more documents
Betrayal of Military Trust
Former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Sergeant Korbein Schultz has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for selling classified American military secrets to a foreign national believed to be connected to the Chinese government.
The Justice Department revealed that Schultz sold at least 92 sensitive documents containing critical national defense information. The betrayal was discovered when Schultz was arrested in March 2024 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he had been stationed as an intelligence analyst with access to highly sensitive information.
Schultz pleaded guilty to six criminal counts, including conspiracy to obtain and transmit national defense data and bribery. While the charges carried a potential maximum sentence of 65 years in prison, the seven-year sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
The case highlights growing concerns about China’s aggressive espionage efforts targeting American military technology and operational plans, particularly regarding potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Army intelligence analyst charged with selling military secrets to contact in #China for $42,000
An active duty Army soldier and intelligence analyst spent over a year selling sensitive military documents related to the U.S. defense of Taiwan, weapons systems, and missile… pic.twitter.com/eVLiVxTUS8
— Indo-Pacific News – Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) March 7, 2024
Extensive Classified Information Revealed
The scope of Schultz’s betrayal was extensive and potentially damaging to national security. Court documents show he provided his contact with technical manuals for intercontinental ballistic missile systems, the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and tactical playbooks on countering unmanned aerial systems.
He also shared his Army unit’s operational order before deployment to Eastern Europe for NATO operations, revealing sensitive military planning information that could compromise American and allied forces.
“Protecting classified information is paramount to our national security, and this sentencing reflects the ramifications when there is a breach of that trust. This soldier’s actions put Army personnel at risk, placing individual gain above personal honor,” said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox
Prosecutors detailed how Schultz provided information about U.S. military exercises in South Korea and the Philippines, as well as lessons from the Ukraine-Russia war that could be applied to Taiwan. This intelligence would be particularly valuable to Chinese military planners looking to understand American tactics and capabilities in potential regional conflicts.
The documents also contained information about Chinese military tactics that had been compiled by U.S. intelligence, essentially giving Chinese officials insight into what America knows about their own operations.
Foreign Espionage Network
According to the Justice Department, Schultz’s contact lived in Hong Kong and worked for a geopolitical consulting firm, a common cover for intelligence operatives seeking to gather information from foreign sources. Schultz received approximately $42,000 in payments for the classified information he provided. The investigation revealed that Schultz had attempted to expand his espionage network by recruiting another Army intelligence officer to obtain additional documents, showing a deliberate effort to compromise more national security information.
The case represents one of the most significant breaches of military intelligence by an active-duty service member in recent years. Military officials are reviewing security protocols to prevent similar incidents, as concerns grow about insider threats within the armed forces. The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for betraying military secrets and the ongoing challenges of securing sensitive information in an era of persistent foreign intelligence operations targeting American defense capabilities.
