A U.S. Army intelligence analyst has pleaded guilty to charges of selling military secrets to China for $42,000, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Sgt. Korbein Schultz, who served with the First Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, was arrested in March after being indicted by a federal grand jury.
On August 13, Schultz pleaded guilty to several charges including conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official. The DOJ stated that Schultz abused his access to restricted government systems in order to sell sensitive military information.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen from the DOJ’s National Security Division expressed concern over how Schultz’s actions put national security at risk. He emphasized that by conspiring with a foreign national and transmitting national defense information outside the United States, Schultz betrayed the trust placed in him by the military.
Schultz held top secret/sensitive compartmented information security clearance while serving in the Army. He was recruited by an individual identified as “Conspirator A,” who lived in Hong Kong and was suspected of having ties with the Chinese government.
The indictment revealed that their conspiracy began in 2022 and continued until Schultz’s arrest. They communicated using encrypted methods through various platforms. According to court documents, Schultz provided Conspirator A with numerous sensitive but unclassified military documents. These included information on various aircraft such as HH-60 helicopters and F-22A fighter aircrafts; missile systems like intercontinental ballistic missiles; strategic bombers like B-52 aircrafts; and defense systems like HIMARS and terminal high altitude area defense system.
Additionally, Conspirator A requested information on hypersonic equipment from Schultz but it remains unclear if he complied with this request successfully.
One notable document supplied by Schultz discussed lessons learned from Ukraine’s war that could be applied for Taiwan’s defense against China—a self-ruled island that China seeks control over. Other documents included those related to U.S. military forces stationed in South Korea and Philippines as well as U.S. military satellites.
The indictment also mentioned another individual referred to as “U.S Person 1,” who was recruited by Schultz himself within the U.S Army ranks. Conspirator A asked U.S Person 1 for specific documents related to INDOPACOM (U.S Indo-Pacific Command), particularly regarding studies on Ukraine war and Taiwan.
In November 2022, Conspirator A deemed one document titled “INDOPACOM Lessons Learned” provided by U.S Person 1 as too simplistic.
On August 10th ,2023 ,Schultz had discussions about two US Navy sailors arrested two days prior for allegedly passing sensitive military information onto China . Following these discussions ,Conspirator A warned Shultz about being more careful regarding security measures .
One of those Navy sailors,Wenheng Zhao from Monterey Park ,was sentenced earlier this year (January)to serve prison time lasting up till twenty seven months .
U.S Attorney Henry Leventis for Middle District Tennessee condemned Shultz’s actions stating “This defendant sold national defence Information To foreign actor And conspired To corrupt other members Of our Military” .He further added “In doing so he violated his training And his oath As member Of armed services And compromised our National Security.Today’s guilty plea To all Of charges In indictment ensures That he will be held fully accountable For his crimes.”
Schultz is scheduled for sentencing on January 23rd next year.His attorney Mary Kathryn Harcombe declined any comments when contacted