Ex-Army Intelligence Analyst Sentenced for Selling Sensitive Information to Chinese National

Army intelligence analyst Korbein Schultz has received a seven-year prison sentence for selling over 90 classified US military documents to a Chinese national for $42,000.

Key Takeaways

Former Army Sergeant Korbein Schultz, 25, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to providing at least 92 classified military documents to a Chinese national.
Schultz received approximately $42,000 in bribes for sharing sensitive information over a nearly two-year period from May 2022 to March 2024.
The stolen documents included US military tactics, information about the Ukraine-Russia war applicable to Taiwan’s defense, and details about American forces in South Korea and the Philippines.
Schultz was arrested at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee border in March 2024.

Betrayal for Profit: How the Espionage Operation Unfolded

The espionage case began when Schultz, who held a Top Secret security clearance, was contacted through a freelance work platform by a foreign national in Hong Kong. The Chinese national reportedly began seeking increasingly specific non-public materials and information with higher classification levels. Despite clear indications of the foreign contact’s ties to the Chinese government, Schultz proceeded to access restricted databases to download and transmit highly sensitive documents.

The 25-year-old Texas native was arrested in March 2024 at Fort Campbell, straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee border, following an investigation that uncovered his extensive unauthorized disclosures. Schultz admitted to sharing dozens of sensitive US military documents between May 2022 and March 2024, ultimately pleading guilty to charges including conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, exporting technical data without a license, and accepting bribes as a public official.

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 of the Breach

The documents Schultz provided contained information with serious national security implications. They included details about US military tactics and strategy, lessons learned from the Ukraine-Russia conflict that could be applied to Taiwan’s defense, information about Chinese military tactics, and details regarding US military exercises and forces stationed in South Korea and the Philippines. These disclosures potentially compromised American military operations and personnel in the Asia-Pacific region, where tensions with China have been increasing.

The case highlights China’s ongoing efforts to target US military personnel for intelligence gathering. Military analysts with access to classified information remain particularly vulnerable to recruitment attempts. Schultz’s arrest followed the detention of two US Navy sailors in California on similar charges of spying for China, pointing to a broader pattern of Chinese intelligence operations targeting American military personnel.

Strong Response from Justice Department Officials

The seven-year prison sentence handed down to Schultz reflects the gravity of his offenses against national security. In addition to compromising sensitive military information, Schultz attempted to deepen the security breach by trying to recruit another officer to obtain additional classified documents, demonstrating a concerning pattern of betrayal that went beyond his individual actions.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel both responded to the situation, with Patel saying, “This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it.” Bondi has stated the Justice Department “remains vigilant against China’s efforts to target our military” and will continue to ensure that those who leak military secrets face serious consequences.