U.S. Army soldier Sgt. Korbein Schultz rose to fame after being detained in March for allegedly selling confidential information on American military capabilities. Holding a top-secret security clearance, he plotted with someone to reveal several papers, images, and other items related to national defense. He gave information on U.S. military satellites, techniques to defeat drones, hypersonic technology, rocket, missile, and artillery weapons systems, and research on future advances of U.S. armed forces. His actions serve as a stark reminder of the value of protecting secret material and the fallout from undermining confidence in the military community.
When and why was Sgt Korbein Schultz arrested?
After an FBI-US Army counterintelligence investigation, Sgt. Korbein Schultz was arrested in March. He was charged with selling hundreds of classified U.S. military documents on rocket systems and Chinese tactics. The criminal scheme lasted from June 2022 till his arrest. Schultz pled guilty to all charges and will be sentenced in January.
Today, Sgt. Korbein Schultz pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, export of technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official. pic.twitter.com/jFyYitL7Mo
— Army Counterintelligence Command (ACIC) (@Real_ArmyCI) August 13, 2024
With a top-secret security clearance, he conspired to leak papers, photos, and other national defense secrets. He discussed rocket, missile, and artillery weapons systems, hypersonic technology, drone defense, U.S. military satellites, and future military advances.
Are there any other similar cases in recent history?
Apart from Sgt. Korbein Schultz, another Navy sailor from San Diego was also charged with identical offenses. After being charged with selling confidential information to China, this sailor was given a 27-month term in federal prison in January.
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How did the FBI uncover the security breach?
Sgt. Korbein Schultz was an enlisted intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army with a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, according to charge and plea documents. He planned to gather intelligence on national security with a person in Hong Kong whom he believed to be connected to the Chinese government.
This includes export-controlled technical data and secret information about U.S. military weaponry systems. Schultz gave the person access to this information in return for payment. This security violation was discovered with the help of the FBI and U.S. Army counterintelligence, which ultimately resulted in Schultz’s imprisonment.
How much are FBI and US Army counterintelligence alleged to be paid?
Sgt. Korbein Schultz was allegedly paid $42,000 in exchange for dozens of sensitive security records. This payment came as part of the criminal conspiracy that began in June 2022 and continued until his arrest in March.
What is the current status of Sgt. Schultz’s legacy?
Sgt. Korbein Schultz’s legacy is still being debated and examined as of right now. The military community has surely been impacted by his activities, which also highlight how crucial it is to protect sensitive material.
All military personnel are reminded of the seriousness of their obligations to safeguard national security by the fallout from his decisions.
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