America has an identity crisis. And even many who say they serve our country are working against it.
Now a US Army mole is thrown behind bars for selling US secrets to this foreign enemy.
Former Army Analyst Sentenced for Leaking Secrets to China
A former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, Korbein Schultz, 25, of Wills Point, Texas, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for passing sensitive military information to an individual he believed was linked to the Chinese government.
Schultz’s actions, which spanned from May 2022 to his arrest in March 2024, involved transmitting dozens of classified documents in exchange for approximately $42,000, despite clear signs that his contact was tied to Beijing.
Schultz pleaded guilty in August 2024 to charges including conspiracy to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawful export of controlled data to China, and accepting bribes.
Court documents reveal he provided his Chinese contact with critical materials, including his Army unit’s operational order for NATO deployment in Eastern Europe, lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict applicable to Taiwan’s defense, and technical manuals for the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems.
He also shared insights into Chinese military tactics, U.S. military exercises in South Korea and the Philippines, and details on U.S. satellite and missile defense systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense.
A Calculated Betrayal
The scheme began when Schultz, shortly after receiving his Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance, was approached via a freelance work platform by an individual posing as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm.
This person, later identified as a Chinese national, initially requested analyses on U.S. military capabilities, focusing on Taiwan and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Over time, the demands grew more specific, targeting non-public, highly classified materials. The conspirator emphasized the need for “exclusiveness” and “CUI and better,” according to court documents.
Fully aware of the national security risks, Schultz accessed restricted U.S. government databases to download and send at least 92 sensitive documents.
He also attempted to recruit a fellow Army intelligence analyst, assigned to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, into the conspiracy. Discussions with his Chinese contact about recruiting others were deliberate, with plans to proceed in a “nice and slow fashion,” per court records.
Justice Department Vows Vigilance
Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned Schultz’s actions, stating, “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.”
FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this sentiment, noting that service members are a “prime target” for China. “This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,” Patel said.
“The People’s Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target. The FBI and our partners will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.”
