A U.S. Army sergeant and intelligence analyst pleaded guilty on Tuesday to selling America’s national defense secrets to a foreign national believed to be connected with the Chinese government.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release, Sgt. Korbein Schultz pleaded guilty to selling national defense information for a total of $42,000. Schultz allegedly used his Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance in the U.S. Army to obtain and share national defense information with a foreign national.
Tuesday’s press release noted that Schultz had previously been indicted 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.”
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division explained that by using his access to restricted government systems and conspiring to transmit national security secrets to a foreign national, Schultz “callously put our national security at risk to cash in on the trust our military placed in him.” Olsen added, “Today’s guilty plea is a stark reminder that those who would betray their sworn oath for personal gain will be identified and brought to justice.”
U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis said Schultz not only sold national defense information to a foreign national but also “conspired to corrupt other members of our military.” Leventis said that Schulz violated both his military training and his oath and compromised U.S. national security.
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Tuesday’s press release indicated that Schultz sold national security secrets to an individual based in Hong Kong who is believed to have been in contact with the Chinese government.
The press release also noted that the $42,000 Schultz received was in exchange for classified information and sensitive military documents. Some of the documents shared with the foreign national include information on the Chinese military’s preparedness, the F-22A aircraft, the HH-40 helicopter, and HIMARS rockets.
“The defendant has admitted guilt in a case that should send a strong message to any U.S. service members thinking about betraying their country,” Robert Wells, executive assistant director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, said. “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 added, “Governments like China are aggressively targeting our military personnel and national security information and we will do everything in our power to ensure that information is safeguarded from hostile foreign governments.”
Schultz is currently scheduled to be sentenced in January and faces up to 65 years in prison if all of the charges against him are met with the maximum penalties.
