Korbein Schultz, a 24-year-old U.S. Army intelligence analyst stationed at Fort Campbell, has recently pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell sensitive military information to China. Sergeant Schultz was arrested in March 2024 following an extensive investigation by the FBI and U.S. Army Counterintelligence, which uncovered his involvement in leaking classified information to a foreign national suspected of being linked to the Chinese government. Initially, he had chosen to plead not guilty but later changed his plea in court. 

Details of the Conspiracy

The conspiracy began in June 2022, when Schultz was first approached by an individual identified in court documents as “Conspirator A,” who purportedly resided in Hong Kong. This person specifically sought out Schultz due to his top-secret security clearance and access to sensitive U.S. military information. Schultz provided dozens of classified documents, photographs, and other national defense materials throughout the conspiracy in exchange for a total of 14 payments totaling $42,000.

The information Schultz leaked included critical details about U.S. military capabilities, such as documents on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), hypersonic equipment, and U.S. military satellite operations. Notably, Schultz also provided insights into how lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be applied to a potential conflict involving Taiwan. In a bid to deepen the relationship and earn more money, Schultz expressed a desire for a long-term partnership with Conspirator A, who encouraged him to seek even more sensitive “internal only” material.

In a six-count indictment, Schultz was accused of 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.

Regarding Schultz’s actions, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said:

“The defendant abused his access to restricted government systems to sell sensitive military information to a person he knew to be a foreign national. By conspiring to transmit national defense information to a person living outside the United States, this defendant callously put our national security at risk to cash in on the trust our military placed in him. Today’s guilty plea is a stark reminder that those who would betray their sworn oath for personal gain will be identified and brought to justice.”  

US Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee continued: “This defendant sold national defense information to a foreign actor and conspired to corrupt other members of our military. In doing so, he violated his training and his oath as a member of the armed services, and he compromised our national security. Today’s guilty plea to all of the charges in the indictment ensures that he will be held fully accountable for his crimes.”