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Former Navy Sailor Sentenced to 200 Months for Espionage
San Diego, CA – A former U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, 25, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison after being convicted last year of spying for China. Wei, who served as a machinist’s mate on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex at Naval Base San Diego, was arrested in August 2023.
Prosecutors revealed that Wei was recruited by a Chinese intelligence officer in February 2022 and subsequently used his position to gather and sell sensitive military information. Over a period of eighteen months, Wei received $12,000 for his efforts.
“Members of the United States military swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” stated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Monday. “This active-duty U.S.
Navy sailor betrayed his country and compromised the national security of the United States.” Blanche emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to investigating and protecting American interests.
Following his arrest, Wei reportedly told FBI investigators, “I’m screwed,” admitting he was “sharing the unclassified document to – I mean document with, uhm, him … I’m not supposed to do that.”
A jury found Wei guilty on six of seven charges, including espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage, conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, and three counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act.
The Justice Department detailed some of Wei’s illicit activities, noting that he sold the intelligence officer at least 30 technical and operating manuals pertaining to U.S. Navy systems.
These manuals, which contained export control warnings, provided detailed information on the operations of various systems aboard the USS Essex and similar vessels, including power, steering, weapons control, aircraft and deck elevators, as well as damage and casualty controls. In total, Wei sold approximately 60 technical and operating manuals, along with dozens of photographs and papers related to the U.S.
Navy and his assignments.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg commented on the betrayal, stating, “Wei swore loyalty to the United States when he joined the Navy and reaffirmed that oath when he became a citizen. He then accepted the solemn responsibility of protecting this Nation’s secrets when the United States entrusted him with sensitive Navy information. He made a mockery of these commitments when he chose to endanger our Nation and our servicemembers by selling U.S. military secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer for personal profit.”
While Wei’s attorney acknowledged the wrongfulness of his actions, they characterized him as young and naive, asserting he “never intended to harm the United States.”