Latest news with #KorbeinSchultz
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Army intelligence analyst sentenced to prison for selling military secrets to Chinese national: DOJ
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (WKRN) — A former Army intelligence analyst stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky has been sentenced to prison for selling sensitive military information to a foreign national in China, the Department of Justice announced. Last year, the Department of Justice said Korbein Schultz pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including 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. On Wednesday, the DOJ announced that Schultz was sentenced 84 months in prison for those charges. 'This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in the announcement. 'The People's Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target.' POW who shared cell with McCain recounts six-year ordeal Court documents revealed that between May 2022 and March 2024, Schultz conspired to provide a foreign national 'likely connected to the Chinese government' with sensitive military documents in exchange for about $42,000. The DOJ said that Schultz was 'fully aware of the grave national security implications' what he was doing, which included transmitting documents containing information including: technical manuals for missile systems and aircraft; documents outlining secret military exercises; details about military satellites; and 'tactics' for countering drone attacks, among other classified information. The DOJ said the foreign national had initially posed as a 'a client from a geopolitical consulting firm' when first contacting Schultz. This person had asked Schultz to provide classified details before making more specific requests. The DOJ said Schultz was complicit in supplying some of this information after a financial agreement was made. Schultz was also accused of trying to recruit an analyst with the Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command — described by the DOJ as a friend of his — to get in on the scheme. It was unclear how this analyst responded to the attempts. U.S. congressmen tour El Salvador prison 'Those who collaborate with America's foreign adversaries put our country, and those who defend it, at grave risk and we will do whatever it takes to hold them accountable for their crimes,' acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee said. 'We will proudly stand in support of our men and women in uniform and work diligently to protect them from people like the defendant who would sell them out for a few bucks.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Former US Army Officer Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Selling Sensitive Military Information
A former U.S. Army intelligence officer who had top secret security clearance was sentenced to seven years in prison on April 23 for conspiring to collect and sell national defense information to an individual he believed was affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Korbein Schultz, 25, was 'fully aware of the grave national security implications' when he used his position and access to restricted databases to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive U.S. military documents, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee Schultz, of Wills Point, Texas, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to multiple charges, including conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public U.S. government information. 'This defendant swore an oath to defend the United States — instead, he betrayed it for a payout and put America's military and service members at risk,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said. '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.' According to Many of the documents he had access to in his role were labeled with warnings that they held technical data that was subject to export controls, court documents state. Related Stories 4/24/2025 4/23/2025 Prosecutors said that between May 2022 and his arrest in March 2024, Schultz provided dozens of sensitive documents and data related to U.S. military capabilities to an unnamed Chinese national residing in Hong Kong. Despite 'clear indications' that the individual was likely connected to the Chinese regime, Schultz continued to hand over the documents and data in exchange for approximately $42,000, according to officials. Among the documents Schultz gave the individual were those regarding his Army unit's operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe in support of NATO operations; lessons learned by the U.S. Army from the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict that were applicable to Taiwan's defense; technical manuals for the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems; and information on Chinese military tactics and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force. Additionally, Schultz handed documents containing details on U.S. military exercises in the Republic of Korea and the Philippines, U.S. military satellites and missile defense systems such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and tactics for countering unmanned aerial systems in large-scale combat operations. The unnamed individual initially contacted Schultz through a freelance web-based work platform shortly after he received his high-level security clearance, prosecutors said. The individual posed as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm and sought to get Schultz to provide 'detailed analyses on U.S. military capabilities and planning,' particularly as they pertain to Taiwan and the Russia–Ukraine war. Over time, the unnamed person began demanding increasingly more specific and sensitive information from Schultz, including technical manuals, operational procedures, and intelligence assessments, and was particularly eager to have documents that weren't publicly available, prosecutors said. Schultz agreed to obtain the highly classified documents and even attempted to recruit a friend and fellow Army intelligence analyst into the conspiracy, who at the time was assigned to the U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command, according to prosecutors. 'This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,' said FBI Director Kash Patel. 'The People's Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target.' The Epoch Times has contacted an attorney for Schultz for comment.
Arabian Post
24-04-2025
- Arabian Post
Army Analyst Faces Lengthy Sentence for Selling Secrets to Foreign Contact
A U.S. Army intelligence analyst has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to transmit sensitive military information to a foreign national, in a case that has raised serious concerns about national security breaches within the armed forces. Sergeant Korbein Schultz, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, admitted to providing classified documents to an individual he believed to be residing in Hong Kong. The transactions, which occurred between June 2022 and his arrest in March 2024, involved the exchange of sensitive data for approximately $42,000. The recipient, referred to in court documents as 'Conspirator A,' remains unidentified publicly. The materials Schultz disclosed included detailed information on U.S. military capabilities and strategic plans. Among the documents were analyses of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System , assessments of hypersonic weaponry, and studies on the future development of U.S. military forces. Additionally, Schultz provided documents related to the U.S. military's operational plans concerning Taiwan in the event of a conflict, as well as data on Chinese military preparedness and tactics. Investigators revealed that Schultz utilized encrypted communication channels to transmit the classified information. In one exchange, when promised additional compensation for higher-classified materials, Schultz responded, 'I hope so! I need to get my other BMW back!' indicating a personal financial motive behind his actions. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division stated, '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.' See also California's EV Charging Stations Surpass Gasoline Nozzles by 48% Schultz's actions have been characterized as a significant breach of trust and a violation of his oath as a service member. U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that Schultz 'sold national defense information to a foreign actor and conspired to corrupt other members of our military.' The charges against Schultz include 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. Each charge carries substantial penalties, with potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years per count.
New York Post
24-04-2025
- New York Post
Former US Army intelligence analyst sentenced for selling sensitive documents to Chinese national
A former US Army intelligence analyst was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for giving sensitive military information to a person 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 defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public US government information. Advertisement From May 2022 until his arrest in March 2024, Schultz engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to provide dozens of sensitive US military documents — many of which contained export-controlled tactical and technical information — directly to a foreign national living in the People's Republic of China, according to court documents. Despite 'clear indications' the person he was giving the information to was likely connected to the Chinese government, Schultz continued the relationship in exchange for about $42,000, according to officials. Schultz pleaded guilty to giving the person in China his Army unit's operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe in support of NATO operations; lessons learned by the US Army from the Ukraine and Russia conflict, applicable to Taiwan's defense; technical manuals for the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems; information on Chinese military tactics and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force; and details on US military exercises in the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. 4 Korbein Schultz pleaded guilty to conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive, non-public US government information. Sgt. Ryan Rayno, 181st Multifunctional Training Brigade Advertisement He also provided documents concerning US military satellites and missile defense systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and tactics for countering unmanned aerial systems in large-scale combat operations. The person Schultz gave information to in China first contacted him through a freelance web-based work platform shortly after Schultz received his Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance, according to court documents. They allegedly posed as a client from a geopolitical consulting firm, soliciting Schultz to provide detailed analyses on US military capabilities and planning, particularly in relation to Taiwan and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 4 Tanks from the People's Liberation Army roll through Tiananmen Square during a parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, 2009. REUTERS Advertisement As the relationship progressed, the Chinese national's demands grew increasingly specific and sensitive — requesting technical manuals, operational procedures and intelligence assessments. The conspirator made it clear that he was interested in receiving materials that were not publicly available and encouraged Schultz to seek out higher levels of classification, emphasizing 'exclusiveness' and 'CUI and better,' according to court documents. Schultz agreed to send higher levels of classified information to the Chinese man in exchange for money. 4 Chinese flags on display at the Yangshan Port outside Shanghai, China on Feb. 7, 2025. REUTERS Advertisement Fully aware of the national security implications, Schultz accessed restricted databases, including closed US government computer networks, to download and transmit at least 92 sensitive US military documents, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). He also attempted to recruit his friend, a fellow Army intelligence analyst, into the conspiracy. At the time, Schultz's friend was assigned to the US Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command, the combatant command that covers China and its regional areas of influence. Schultz and the Chinese conspirator talked about needing to recruit another person who had better access to classified material, agreeing to do so in a 'nice and slow fashion,' according to court documents. 4 A US and Chinese flags are stitched together in an illustration on Jan. 8 2025. REUTERS Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Schultz betrayed his oath to defend the US, putting America's military and service members at risk. '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,' Bondi wrote in a statement provided by the DOJ. Advertisement Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel added service members are a 'prime target' for the People's Republic of China. 'This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,' Patel wrote in a statement. 'The People's Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target. The FBI and our partners will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.'
Iraqi News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
US soldier jailed for selling defence secrets to China
INA- sources A US Army intelligence analyst was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on April 23 for providing sensitive defence information to China, including documents about US weapons systems and military tactics and strategy. Sergeant Korbein Schultz, who held a top-secret security clearance, was arrested in March 2024 at Fort Campbell, a military base on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Schultz was sentenced after he pleaded guilty last August to sharing at least 92 sensitive US military documents, the Justice Department said in a statement. He admitted charges of conspiring to obtain and disclose national defence information, exporting technical data related to defence articles without a licence, conspiracy to export defence articles without a licence, and bribery of a public official. 'This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. According to the charging documents, Schultz provided dozens of sensitive US military documents to an individual living in Hong Kong who he believed to be associated with the Chinese government. He was paid US$42,000 (S$55,243) for the information, according to the Justice Department. Among the documents handed over by Schultz was one discussing the lessons learned by the US Army from the Ukraine-Russia war that it would apply in a defence of Taiwan. Other documents discussed Chinese military tactics and preparedness, and US military exercises and forces in South Korea and the Philippines. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on April 23 that 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's arrest came less than a year after the arrests of two US Navy sailors in California on charges of spying for China. One of them, petty officer Wenheng Zhao, was sentenced to 27 months in prison in January 2024 after pleading guilty to charges of conspiring with a foreign intelligence officer and accepting a bribe.
