A U.S. Army sergeant has been found guilty of selling top-secret military intelligence to China for $42,000. The soldier, Korbein Schultz, was trusted with handling classified information due to his Top Secret clearance but abused this trust by transmitting sensitive data to foreign entities.
A U.S. Army sergeant pleaded guilty in a federal court on Wednesday to charges related to selling national defense secrets to China for a total of $42,000.
Korbein Schultz, an intelligence analyst, admitted to conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiring to export defense articles without a license, and bribing a public official.
U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Selling National Defense Secrets to China
Schultz held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, which gave him access to sensitive military data. Using this clearance, Schultz obtained and transmitted national defense information to China, compromising U.S. security interests.
According to charging documents, Schultz sold classified details to an individual in Hong Kong who had connections to the Chinese government. The information shared included classified documents on military equipment, such as the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and HIMARS rockets. Additionally, Schultz provided information on the Chinese military's preparedness.
U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Selling National Defense Secrets to China
The Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's National Security Division, Matthew G. Olsen, condemned Schultz's actions, stating that he "abused his access to restricted government systems to sell sensitive military information to a person he knew to be a foreign national."
Olsen emphasized that Schultz's betrayal put the nation's security at risk, and his guilty plea serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for those who compromise national security for personal gain.
U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Selling National Defense Secrets to China
The Executive Assistant Director of the FBI's National Security Branch, Robert Wells, echoed Olsen's sentiments, stating that "the U.S. is governed by the rule of law and when persons placed in a position of trust violate that trust, the FBI and our partners will hold them accountable."
Wells highlighted that foreign governments, like China, actively target U.S. military personnel and national security information, and the FBI is committed to safeguarding sensitive data from hostile forces.
Schultz faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison for the combined offenses. His sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2025.
The case is being prosecuted by trial attorneys Adam Barry and Christopher Cook from the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command and the FBI conducted the investigation leading to Schultz's arrest and subsequent guilty plea.
