A former U.S. Army intelligence analyst has been sentenced to 84 months in prison for conspiring to collect and transmit national defence information, including sensitive, non-public U.S. military information, to an individual he believed was affiliated with the Chinese government.
Korbein Schultz, 25, of Wills Point, Texas, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiring to collect and transmit national defence information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public U.S. government information.
According to court documents, between May 2022 until his arrest in March 2024, Schultz engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to provide dozens of sensitive U.S. military documents — many containing export-controlled tactical and technical information — directly to a foreign national residing in China.
Despite clear indications that this individual, referenced in the indictment as ‘Conspirator A’, was likely connected to the Chinese government, the defendant continued the relationship in exchange for financial compensation. In exchange for approximately $42,000, Schultz provided documents and data related to U.S. military capabilities.
‘Conspirator A’ first contacted the defendant through a freelance web-based work platform shortly after the defendant received his Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. Masquerading as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm, ‘Conspirator A’ solicited the defendant to produce detailed analyses on U.S. military capabilities and planning, particularly in relation to Taiwan and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
As the relationship progressed, Conspirator A’s demands grew increasingly specific and sensitive, requesting technical manuals, operational procedures, and intelligence assessments. Conspirator
He made explicit his interest in materials that were not publicly available and encouraged the defendant to seek out higher levels of classification, emphasising “exclusiveness” and “CUI and better.” Schultz agreed to obtain higher levels of classified information for ‘Conspirator A’ in exchange for money.
The defendant, fully aware of the grave national security implications, used his position and access to restricted databases — including closed U.S. government computer networks — to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive U.S. military documents.
