U.S Army Soldier Arrested for Selling Military Secrets to China
A U.S. Army intelligence analyst has been arrested for allegedly selling American military secrets to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Authorities have charged Korbein Schultz, a 24-year-old Army soldier stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky and Tennessee.
On Thursday, Schultz was charged with 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.
He is accused of sending critical military documents to an individual in Hong Kong in exchange for $42,000.
The documents included top-secret information on U.S. weapons systems.
“Mr. Schultz, a member of the U.S. Army, stands accused of conspiring to obtain and provide national defense information to an individual overseas,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department.
“As part of the conspiracy, the defendant provided sensitive government information to his coconspirator in exchange for thousands of dollars, placing personal profit above the security of the American people.”
On Friday, Schultz appeared in federal court in Nashville and pled not guilty to the charges.
According to his indictment, Schultz’s illegal activity began in June 2022 and continued until his arrest.
One of his most recent duties was listed as “Classified Document Custodian,” the indictment notes.
The individual Schultz allegedly worked with is a CCP-linked Chinese national who lives in Hong Kong.
The Chinese national reportedly works for a geopolitical consulting firm.
Schultz is accused of sending the Chinese individual documents related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), information on hypersonic equipment, studies on the future development of U.S. military forces, studies on major countries like China, and summaries of military drills and operations.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) also said that Schultz sent an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the HH-60W helicopter, an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the F22-A fighter aircraft, and an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for intercontinental ballistic missiles to the individual in Hong Kong.
In a statement, FBI National Security Official Larissa Knapp said:
“The conduct alleged in today’s indictment represents a grave betrayal of the oath sworn to defend our country.
“Instead of safeguarding national defense information, the defendant conspired with a foreign national to sell it, potentially endangering our national security.”
Earlier this year, Navy Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao was sentenced to just over two years in prison after he pled guilty to being bribed to send sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer.
According to the DOJ, he was paid at least $14,866 by a CCP intelligence official for sending information on the U.S. Navy operational security, military trainings and exercises, and critical infrastructure.