US EditionUS Navy sailor convicted of spying for China
- In 2023, a federal jury in San Diego found 25-year-old U.S. Navy sailor Jinchao Wei guilty on six charges related to espionage and conspiracy for transmitting military secrets to China.
- Wei was recruited via Chinese social media in early 2022 by an intelligence officer posing as a naval enthusiast working for China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.
- Over 18 months, Wei sent photos, videos, and thousands of technical pages about the USS Essex and other Navy ships while receiving at least $12,000, though his defense argued he thought the contact was academic.
- Prosecutor Adam Barry emphasized that Wei’s motives were driven by greed rather than animosity toward the United States, and warned that the information he leaked could facilitate attacks or sabotage on naval ships, constituting a severe breach of trust.
- Wei’s conviction, the first espionage case in Southern California, could lead to a life sentence at his December 1 sentencing and highlights ongoing concerns about Chinese espionage efforts in the U.S. military.
32 Articles
32 Articles
California jury convicts Chinese-born U.S. Navy sailor of espionage, spying for China
A San Diego federal jury on Wednesday convicted a Chinese-born U.S. Navy sailor of espionage and other charges related to his sharing of military secrets with a Chinese spy. The jury convicted Jinchao “Patrick” Wei, 25, on six counts of conspiracy, espionage and charges related to unlawfully sending defense information to a foreign government. The jury acquitted Wei, a naturalized U.S. citizen, of a single count of naturalization fraud. Related …
US Navy sailor sold military secrets to China for $12,000, convicted for spying — His mother convinced him to be a spy...
US Navy sailor Jinchao Wei was convicted of espionage for leaking classified military data to a Chinese agent over 18 months in exchange for $12,000. He used encrypted chats and code names. His mother allegedly encouraged him, hoping it would lead to a job in China
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