Ex-Army Analyst Sold Information to Chinese National, Resulting in Prison Sentence

A former army analyst has been sentenced to prison after he was caught selling sensitive information to a Chinese national.

Key Takeaways

A former US Army intelligence analyst, Korbein Schultz, was sentenced to seven years for passing military secrets to a Chinese associate.
Schultz, 25, was arrested at Fort Campbell in March 2024, after selling information, including sensitive details about US defense strategies.
Schultz received $42,000 for unauthorized dissemination of at least 92 sensitive documents.
US officials emphasize constant vigilance against espionage, particularly China’s target on US military secrets.

Bribery and Espionage Uncovered

Korbenin Schultz, from Wills Point, Texas, exploited his intelligence position by distributing US defense secrets. He admitted to wrongdoing in August 2024, after being caught misusing national defense information. Schultz was in contact with a Hong Kong individual reportedly connected to China. He accepted $42,000 incentives, part of a larger conspiracy to leak military tactics, operational instructions, and intel on US and allied exercises, jeopardizing strategic security.

Alert upon receiving his Top Secret clearance in May 2022, Schultz operated unethically for nearly two years. He was prosecuted for conspiring to collect classified data and conduct spyware, leading to his seven-year imprisonment. The involved documents included military insights applicable to Taiwan and data on US troops’ positioning in South Korea and the Philippines.

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Critical Security Breach

Investigations revealed Schultz attempted pushing a fellow officer into the espionage scheme. The Justice Department, echoing FBI Director Kash Patel’s sentiment that sentencing acts as a “stark warning” to criminals, pledges ongoing dedication to countering espionage threats.

“This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it. The People’s Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target,” said Patel.

Prosecutors spotlighted unambiguous signals Schultz ignored, dubbing his plot a profound security breach. Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox said, “Protecting classified information is paramount to our national security, and this sentencing reflects the ramifications when there is a breach of that trust.”

Schultz’s case comes amid broader concerns about espionage involving foreign nations, especially China. Back in mid-2023, two US Navy sailors were arrested on allegations that they provided sensitive information to China.