A United States Navy sailor based in California, Jinchao Wei, has been convicted of espionage after passing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence agent. Wei, 25, who also went by the name Patrick Wei, was found guilty on six charges, including conspiracy to commit espionage, unlawful export of classified material, and transmitting defense secrets.
Espionage refers to secretly gathering or sharing classified information, usually with a foreign government or its agents. It is considered one of the most serious crimes in the military because it can put lives, equipment, and national security at risk.
Evidence and Communications
Wei was arrested in August 2023 while reporting for duty on the amphibious assault ship, the USS Essex. Wei, a naturalized American citizen, worked as a machinist’s mate and held security clearance, which gave him access to restricted information about U.S. Navy ships in the Pacific Fleet.
The USS Essex is a large amphibious assault ship capable of carrying helicopters, aircraft, and Marines for deployment. Ships like the Essex are important in the Pacific Fleet because they can quickly transport forces and equipment to different regions during missions or conflicts. This makes them valuable assets, and information about their weapons, positions, and performance is highly sensitive.
According to prosecutors, Wei shared details of ship defenses, operational challenges, and locations of vessels over an 18-month period. In return, he received payments exceeding $12,000. The information was sent to a handler he referred to as “Big Brother Andy”.
Evidence Presented During Trial
During the weeklong trial, the court reviewed phone calls, encrypted messages, and audio recordings that showed Wei’s communication with the Chinese agent. Prosecutors explained that he used multiple encrypted apps and devices supplied by the handler to avoid detection.
Evidence also revealed that Wei was first approached in February 2022 through social media. The contact presented himself as a naval enthusiast and employee of a Chinese state-owned shipbuilding company. Later, the relationship developed into regular exchanges of sensitive information for money.
Court documents included a text exchange between Wei and his mother. In one message, he admitted to leaking military secrets instead of taking other jobs to earn extra income. His mother responded with encouragement. The exchange suggested that Wei not only understood the seriousness of what he was doing but also discussed it openly with a close family member. According to prosecutors, this showed he was aware of the risks and consequences of his actions but still chose to continue.
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Prosecutors stated that Wei sent photographs and videos of the USS Essex, described its weapon systems, and reported mechanical problems on board. He also disclosed the positions of other Navy ships in the region.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said after the verdict that Wei’s actions represented a serious betrayal of the trust placed in him as a member of the Navy. Wei is scheduled for sentencing on December 1 and faces a possible life sentence.
The arrest of Wei in 2023 occurred around the same time as another case involving Navy petty officer Wenheng Zhao. Zhao was accused of passing information to a different Chinese intelligence contact.
Investigators said Zhao provided operational plans for a large-scale training exercise in the Pacific. He also transmitted blueprints and diagrams for a radar system located in Okinawa, Japan. For this, he received more than $14,800.
That case concluded earlier, with Zhao being sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Both convictions highlight instances where U.S. military personnel were targeted and approached online by individuals posing as enthusiasts or professionals. Prosecutors stated that the contacts later revealed themselves to be intelligence operatives seeking sensitive defense information.