A former US Navy sailor has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for providing sensitive military information to China.
Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was convicted by a federal jury on six counts, including espionage, and was sentenced to 200 months in prison by a federal judge in San Diego.
The 25-year-old served as an engineer aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex. He sold technical and operating manuals for ships and systems to an alleged Chinese intelligence officer, receiving $12,000 in return.
According to reports, Wei was recruited through social media in 2022, when a Chinese official approached him under the guise of a naval enthusiast associated with a state-owned Chinese shipbuilding corporation.
Wei reportedly warned a friend that the contact seemed “extremely suspicious” and likely espionage. Despite his friend’s advice to cut off communication, Wei continued the conversation through a secure chat platform.
With his security clearance, Wei had access to sensitive national security information. He sold 60 technical and operating manuals, along with photos, videos, and locations of various Navy ships.
Wei was arrested alongside his partner, Wenheng Zhao, in August 2023. Zhao pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Wei’s attorney, Sean Jones, defended him, stating that Wei “loves America and has no allegiance to China” and claimed that the information shared was of minimal or no significance to U.S. national security.
