U.S. Navy Sailor Jinchao Wei Convicted of Espionage for Selling Sensitive Information to Chinese Intelligence Officer

A United States Navy sailor, identified as Jinchao Wei, faced conviction on Wednesday for espionage after a jury determined he had illegally sold sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer. The court verdict found him guilty of not only espionage but also conspiracy to commit espionage and the unlawful export of technical data related to defense articles.

Wei’s sentencing is scheduled for December 1, as per a Department of Justice announcement. Despite being acquitted on a charge of naturalization fraud, his actions were described by Adam Gordon, US Attorney for the Southern District of California, as an “egregious betrayal” that endangered both fellow sailors and national security.

On August 2, 2023, Wei was arrested upon arrival at Naval Base San Diego where he served as a machinist’s mate onboard the USS Essex amphibious assault ship. Machinist’s mates are responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing ship equipment. Following his arrest, federal defenders entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. However, post-arrest interviews revealed Wei had admitted to selling technical and mechanical manuals, expressing, “I’m screwed.”

Wei’s recruitment by the Chinese intelligence officer occurred through social media in February 2022. Between March 2022 and his arrest, he transmitted photos, videos, and ship locations of the USS Essex to the Chinese intelligence officer, as well as details of several ships at the San Diego naval base.

Over an 18-month period, Wei shared thousands of pages of technical and operational information stored on restricted-access Navy computer systems. In return, he received over $12,000 for this illicit information exchange.

Coinciding with Wei’s arrest, another US Navy sailor in California was apprehended for selling sensitive military data. Wenheng Zhao, who confessed to conspiring with a Chinese intelligence officer and accepting a bribe, was sentenced last year to over two years in prison.