Trading national defense info for cash? US Army Sgt. accused of selling secrets to China

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A U.S. Army soldier from Fort Campbell was indicted on charges of selling national defense secrets to China, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis announced Thursday.

Korbein Schultz was an army intelligence analyst with the First Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, Leventis said. He was arrested earlier Thursday.

The indictment charges Schultz with six counts, including conspiracy to unlawfully communicate defense information, unlawful export of defense articles to China and bribery of a public official, Leventis said.

"He traded our national defense information for cash," Leventis said. He received $42,000 over 14 payments.

The indictment alleges that starting in June 2022, Schultz collected and shared with a co-conspirator in China information about U.S. military operations, including advanced military helicopters, high-mobility artillery rocket systems, defensive missile systems, and Chinese military tactics, as well as the Tactics Techniques and Procedures manuals for the F22-A fighter jet and intercontinental missiles.

According to the indictment, Schultz told a conspirator in August 2022 that he "'wished he could be 'Jason Bourne.'" A month later, he stated that he thought about "moving to Hong Kong and working for you in person," according to the indictment.

The conspirators drew Schultz in with promises of wealth and racing-related perks, which Schultz appears to hold an affinity for, according to the indictment and a review of his social media.

On May 20, 2023, a conspirator told Schultz that he would "like to meet him at a Formula 1 race overseas," according to court documents, and make Schultz a "senior partner" with a "big signing bonus." 

Schultz replied, "Oh snap!"

Indictment outlines details of conspiracy

According to the indictment, the conspirator's first request for Schultz was to provide information on the "lessons that could be learned from Russia's war with Ukraine," and with that, "what the United States could and should do to help defend Taiwan from an attack."

After Schultz sent the conspirator a draft document pertaining to his request, Schultz was paid $200 on July 6, 2022, according to the indictment. Two days later, Schultz told the conspirator that he would like to turn their relationship into a "long-term partnership."

Shortly after Schultz began transmitting information to in June 2022, the conspirator informed Schultz that if documents were classified, Schultz could receive more money. 

According to the indictment, the conspirator then went on to instruct Schultz to acquire more "sensitive" military information, including information on "hypersonic equipment, studies on future development of U.S. military forces, studies on major countries such as the People's Republic of China, and summaries of military drills/operations."

The conspirator and Schultz also discussed how to hide their activities, debating — among other things — describing their online financial transactions as being related to "car customizations." 

On Aug. 4, 2022, the conspirator told Schultz that if a document the sergeant shared contained any classified information pertaining to the Philippine Sea, the conspirators would "pay [Schultz] more money," according to the indictment. Schultz responded, "I hope so! I need to get my other BMW back!" 

Family confused, shocked

Kolby Weldon, Schultz’s second cousin who lives at the family’s brick ranch home in Clarksville, Tennessee, said he was woken by his dog barking as agents entered the home with guns drawn to arrest Schultz around 11 a.m. CT Thursday.

Weldon said in an interview that it was a jarring experience and a complete surprise for the family.

“All we knew was he was writing papers (on the computer),” he said.

Weldon, who also served in the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell, said he and Schultz shared a bond and the charges hurt on a deeper level.

“It really pisses me off,” Weldon said.

Who is Korbein Schultz?

Schultz, originally from Wills Point, Texas, is a sergeant in the U.S. Army. His Facebook page shows he lives in Clarksville with his family.

Schultz, 24, has been in the Army since November 2018, according to Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson. His awards include the Army Good Conduct Medal.

According to an Army-produced video, Schultz was stationed at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin in August 2021, though public records also place him at Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, in 2019.

According to the indictment filed against him, Schultz was on an overseas deployment in September.

Schultz case latest case involving military secrets

Leventis made the announcement Thursday in Nashville. He was joined by FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta.

A spokesperson from Fort Campbell confirmed to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Schultz was assigned to the Clarksville post, but provided no further details.

“We can confirm that the individual is assigned to Fort Campbell,” said Lt. Col Tony Hoefler, spokesperson for Fort Campbell. “We have and will continue to cooperate with the US Attorney’s Office.”

The arrest comes shortly after a civilian U.S. Air Force employee in Nebraska was arrested for allegedly sharing classified information on a foreign dating website with a person claiming to be a Ukrainian woman.

David Franklin Slater, 63, was arrested on March 2 on charges of conspiring to transmit and transmitting classified information about Russia’s war in Ukraine over a three-month period in early 2022, at the beginning of Russia’s invasion.

A Navy sailor out of San Diego was similarly sentenced to 27 months in federal prison in January after being charged with selling sensitive information to China.

Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count each of conspiring with an intelligence officer and receiving a bribe while serving at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme.

Contributing: Tennessean reporters Craig Shoup and Kirsten Fiscus, USA TODAY reporter Tom Vanden Brook

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins.