Korbein Schultz, 25, from Wills Point, Texas, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to charges including conspiracy to transmit national defence information, unauthorised export of defence articles, and bribery. Between May 2022 and March 2024, Schultz provided at least 92 classified documents to a foreign national residing in China, receiving approximately $42,000 in return.
The materials Schultz disclosed encompassed a wide array of sensitive information. This included technical manuals for advanced military systems such as the F-22A fighter aircraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the HH-60 helicopter. He also shared operational strategies related to US military exercises in Eastern Europe, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific region, as well as assessments on counter-drone operations and satellite defence systems.
Schultz's actions were facilitated through a freelance work platform, where he was approached by an individual posing as a client from a geopolitical consultancy. Despite indications that the person was likely affiliated with the Chinese government, Schultz continued the relationship, providing increasingly sensitive information over time.
In addition to transmitting classified documents, Schultz attempted to recruit a fellow intelligence analyst to join the conspiracy. This colleague was assigned to the US Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees operations in areas of strategic interest to China.
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