A federal investigation has resulted in a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst receiving an 84-month prison sentence on three federal charges due to his involvement in a conspiracy to gather defense information and transfer it to the Chinese government. Attorney General Pam Bondi characterized this act as a betrayal of his oath to protect the United States “for a payout.”
For context, a press release dated April 23, 2025, confirmed that Korbein Schultz, a 25-year-old from Willis Point, Texas, had pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled intelligence to China, and accepting bribes. The Department of Justice indicated that Schultz received approximately $42,000 for sending sensitive military documents and information to China.
In the press release, Attorney General Pam Bondi denounced Schultz’s actions, stating, “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.” She further remarked, “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.”
Additionally, FBI Director Kash Patel referred to Schultz’s sentencing as “a stark warning to those who betray our country,” emphasizing that the warning was, “You will pay a steep price for it.” Director Patel further noted that the People’s Republic of China “is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target.”
Furthermore, Director Patel stated that in future conspiracy cases, the FBI and its partner agencies “will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.”
Similarly, Acting Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee remarked that individuals such as Schultz, “who engage with America’s foreign adversaries,” place the United States at “serious risk” by disclosing sensitive information to a foreign government. He further stated, “We will take all necessary measures to ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
Moreover, the DOJ indicated that Schultz had made efforts to recruit “his friend and fellow Army intelligence analyst into the conspiracy,” noting that Schultz’s contact within the Chinese government had “mentioned the necessity to enlist another individual into their operation who possessed better access to classified information.”
The DOJ also specified that Schultz was first approached to act as a spy for the Chinese government “via a freelance online work platform,” through which he provided technical manuals for aircraft and missile systems, as well as detailed information regarding U.S. Military training tactics and combat strategies. The Justice Department’s press release emphasized that Schultz was “fully cognizant of the serious national security consequences” when he transmitted the sensitive information to China.