Ex-Army Analyst Faces Prison Time for Selling Military Secrets

A former US Army intelligence analyst who sold military secrets to China for $42,000 has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, marking an alarming case of espionage targeting American defense information.

Key Insights

Sergeant Korbein Schultz, 25, from Texas, provided at least 92 sensitive military documents to a Chinese national between May 2022 and March 2024.
The stolen information included US military tactics, strategy, and lessons from the Ukraine-Russia war applicable to Taiwan’s defense.
Schultz was arrested at Fort Campbell in March 2024 and pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information.
This case follows a pattern of China targeting US military personnel, with two Navy sailors also recently arrested for spying.

Military Secrets Sold to the Highest Bidder

Korbein Schultz, a 25-year-old former Army sergeant from Wills Point, Texas, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to providing classified military information to an individual in Hong Kong believed to be working for the Chinese government. Schultz accessed restricted databases to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive documents, receiving approximately $42,000 in exchange for betraying his country. The information he sold included critical details about US military tactics, strategy, and lessons learned from the Ukraine-Russia conflict that could be applied to Taiwan’s defense.

The espionage began shortly after Schultz received his Top Secret security clearance. According to court documents, a Chinese national contacted him through a freelance work platform in May 2022, initially making seemingly innocent requests that gradually escalated to demands for non-public materials and higher classification levels. The conspiracy continued until Schultz’s arrest at Fort Campbell, located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, in March 2024. In addition to stealing classified information himself, Schultz attempted to recruit another officer to obtain even more sensitive documents.

Former US Army intelligence analyst sentenced for selling sensitive documents to Chinese national https://t.co/hBXg7xsQ5x pic.twitter.com/bN1In9h5c9

— New York Post (@nypost) April 24, 2025

National Security Implications

The documents Schultz provided revealed sensitive information about US military exercises and forces in South Korea and the Philippines, along with details about Chinese military tactics. The theft represents a significant breach of national security, particularly given the current geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the case highlights China’s ongoing targeting of American military personnel and defense information, noting that Schultz’s contact worked for a geopolitical consulting firm in Hong Kong.

Schultz’s arrest followed the arrests of two US Navy sailors in California for similar espionage activities on behalf of China, indicating a pattern of targeted recruitment efforts aimed at American military personnel. The Justice Department has emphasized increased vigilance against such threats, with Attorney General Pamela Bondi specifically warning about China’s efforts to obtain US military secrets.

Response to the Betrayal

US officials have expressed strong condemnation of Schultz’s actions, with US Attorney General Pam Bondi saying 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.”

Schultz faced multiple charges including conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data without a license, and bribery of a public official. Military leaders stressed that such actions not only compromise national security but potentially put American service members at risk. “Protecting classified information is paramount to our national security, and this sentencing reflects the ramifications when there is a breach of that trust,” Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox said.