Ex-Army Analyst Gets 7 Years Behind Bars for Selling Military Information

Former US Army intelligence analyst Korbein Schultz has been sentenced to seven years in prison for selling classified military information to China, highlighting the growing threat of foreign espionage targeting American military personnel.

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A Two-Year Espionage Operation Uncovered

Sergeant Korbein Schultz, a 25-year-old Army intelligence analyst from Wills Point, Texas, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to espionage charges. From May 2022 to March 2024, Schultz systematically provided dozens of sensitive US military documents to an individual in Hong Kong believed to be associated with the Chinese government. The espionage operation was discovered when authorities arrested Schultz at Fort Campbell, located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, earlier this year following an investigation into his suspicious activities.

Court records reveal that Schultz’s espionage began after he received his Top Secret security clearance. He was initially contacted through a freelance work platform by a Chinese national working for a geopolitical consulting firm based in Hong Kong. The requests he received escalated, with the Chinese operative seeking more specific, non-public materials and higher classification levels. Using his privileged access, Schultz downloaded and transmitted at least 92 sensitive documents, receiving approximately $42,000 in exchange.

Sensitive Information with Far-Reaching Security Implications

The classified documents Schultz provided contained highly sensitive information that could significantly impact US national security and that of its allies. Among the materials were US military tactics, strategy, and lessons learned from the Ukraine-Russia war that could be applied to Taiwan’s defense against potential Chinese aggression. Additional documents detailed Chinese military tactics, US military exercises, and information about American forces stationed in South Korea and the Philippines. These revelations could potentially undermine US military operations and strategies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Schultz’s activities went beyond simply providing documents he already had access to.He also reportedly tried to recruit another military officer to obtain additional classified materials. This escalation demonstrates the calculated nature of his betrayal and suggests a deepening relationship with his Chinese handler. Prosecutors noted that the conspirator’s requests became increasingly specific over time, seeking materials with higher classification levels and more detailed military information.

A Stern Warning Against Foreign Espionage

The Justice Department has emphasized that Schultz’s case serves as a warning about China’s ongoing efforts to target US military personnel and obtain classified information. His arrest followed similar cases involving two US Navy sailors in California who were also charged with spying for China, highlighting a pattern of espionage attempts targeting American military personnel. The charges against Schultz included conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data without a license, and bribery of a public official.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have both emphasized the seriousness of Schultz’s actions and the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting national security. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by US intelligence and law enforcement agencies to combat espionage activities, particularly those orchestrated by foreign adversaries seeking to gain military advantages. For his part, Schultz will now spend the next seven years behind bars.