A former US Army intelligence analyst was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday, which he was to give sensitive military information to a person which he believed that he was affiliated to the Chinese government.
The 25-year-old Korbin Shults of Wils Point, Texas blamed in August 2024 for collecting national defense information, exporting controlled information to China and conspiring to accept bribe in exchange for sensitive, non-public US government.
From May 2022 to March 2024, until his arrest, Shults was engaged in a conspiracy to provide dozens of sensitive American military documents-many of which included export-controlled strategic and technical information-a foreign national living in the Republic of the people of China, according to the court documents.
According to officials, despite the “clear indication” that the person he was giving information was probably associated with the Chinese government, Shults continued the relationship in exchange for about $ 42,000.
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A former US Army soldier was sentenced to seven years in jail after being convicted for providing at least 92 sensitive US military documents with a relationship with the Chinese government. (AP Photo/Mark Sheffelbin)
Shults convicted the person in China for the operational order of his army unit before being deployed in Eastern Europe in support of the operation of NATO; Lessons learned by the US Army from Ukraine and Russia conflicts, applicable to protect Taiwan; HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter aircraft, and technical manual for intercontinental ballistic missile systems; Information on Chinese military strategy and People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force; And details on American military exercises in the Republic of Korea and the Philippines.
He also provided documents related to American military satellites and missile defense systems such as high mobility artillery rocket systems and terminal high altitude area defense, and strategy to combat unmanned air systems in large -scale fighter operations.
According to court documents, Shults gave information in China, in which Shultz contacted Shults through a freelance web-based work platform soon after receiving his top secret/sensitive compartments clearance.
He allegedly introduced as a customer of a geopolitical counseling firm, especially the Taiwan and the Russia-Ukraine struggle urged Shults to provide detailed analysis on American military capabilities and plan in relation to the struggle.
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The Chinese conspirator first approached the soldier through a freelance web-based work platform. (China through daily Reuters)
As the relationship progressed, the demands of the Chinese national became increasingly specific and sensitive – technical manual, operating procedures and intelligence assessments.
The conspirator made it clear that he was interested in achieving materials that were not publicly available and encouraged Shults to seek high levels of classification, emphasizing “specificity” and “Qi and better” according to court documents.
Shults agreed to send a high level of classified information to the Chinese man in exchange for money.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), fully addresses about national security implications, Shults reached a restricted database to download and broadcast at least 92 sensitive US military documents, including the closed US government computer network.
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According to officials, the soldier attempted to recruit a fellow US army analyst. ,
He also tried to recommend his friend, a fellow army intelligence analyst in a conspiracy.
At that time, Shults’ friend was assigned to the Indo-Pacific command of the US Department of Defense, which was assigned to the Combatant Command covering China and its regional regions.
According to court documents, Shults and Chinese conspiracy talked about the need to recruit another person, who had better access to classified material, agreed to do so in “good and slow fashion”.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said that Shults took his oath to protect the US, putting US military and service members at risk.
Bandy wrote in a statement provided by DOJ, “The Department of Justice is cautious against China’s efforts to target our army and will ensure that people who leaked military secrets spend years behind bars.”
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Director of Federal Investigation Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel is a “major target” for Jodi Service Member Peoples Republic of China.
Patel wrote in a statement, “This punishment is a warning for those who cheat our country: you will pay a price for it.” “People’s Republic of China is tireless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a major goal. FBI and our partner will continue to stop spy and catch the accountable who will give up their responsibilities to protect defense information from hostile foreign governments.”
