A former U.S. Army intelligence analyst who once dreamed of being “Jason Bourne” will now be spending the next seven years behind bars — not as a secret agent, but as a convicted traitor.
Korbein Schultz, 25, of Wills Point, Texas, was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for conspiring to transmit highly sensitive national defense information to a Chinese intelligence contact posing as a geopolitical consultant. Schultz pleaded guilty in August 2024 to charges that included conspiring to export controlled information, unlawfully communicating defense secrets, and accepting bribes.
“This defendant swore an oath to defend the United States — instead, he betrayed it for a payout,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department remains vigilant against China’s efforts to target our military.”
And a payout it was. According to prosecutors, Schultz sold out his country for a total of $42,000 over the course of nearly two years, handing over dozens of classified military documents — including info on U.S. satellite systems, missile defense capabilities, and operational plans related to China and Taiwan.
From Analyst to Asset
Schultz’s downfall began shortly after he was granted a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. Not long after, he was approached through a freelance job platform by a supposed client from a Hong Kong-based “geopolitical consulting firm.” That client — known in court documents as “Conspirator A” — turned out to be a likely front for Chinese intelligence.
Schultz accepted assignments that required him to dig into sensitive databases, including classified military networks. The materials he provided included:
- His unit’s pre-deployment order for NATO operations in Eastern Europe
- Army “lessons learned” from the Ukraine conflict, applicable to Taiwan
- Technical manuals for the HH-60, F-22A, and ICBM systems
- Details on HIMARS and THAAD missile defense
- Tactics for countering UAS threats in large-scale combat
- Intelligence assessments on the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force
According to the indictment, Schultz wasn’t content with just leaking secrets himself. He actively tried to recruit another soldier — a friend stationed at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the very unit tasked with countering Chinese aggression in the region. Schultz and Conspirator A discussed the need to bring in someone with better access and planned to do so “in a nice and slow fashion.”
It’s unclear if the friend was ever turned, but Schultz’s intent was crystal clear.
A Soldier’s Shame
Schultz is the son of a Vietnam veteran who passed away in 2018 due to Agent Orange exposure, and his social media once painted the picture of a patriotic family man. He was married, had a young child, and wore the uniform of a U.S. Army NCO.
But behind that uniform was a man willing to sell his oath — and his brothers and sisters in arms — for a few easy paydays and the delusion of spy movie glory.
“This Soldier’s actions put Army personnel at risk, placing individual gain above personal honor,” said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, Commander of Army Counterintelligence. “We urge all current and former Army personnel to report any suspicious contact immediately.”
In the end, Schultz didn’t get to be Jason Bourne. He won’t be slipping out of windows or escaping with flash drives of secrets. He’ll be serving seven years in a federal facility, likely stripped of rank, clearance, and any honor he once had.
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