The US Department of Justice on January 12 announced that Jinchao Wei, a former US Navy sailor, has been sentenced to 200 months (nearly 17 years) in federal prison for espionage after selling sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer.
Wei, 25, also known as Patrick Wei, was convicted by a federal jury in August 2025 following a five-day trial. He was arrested in August 2023 as he arrived for work aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex at Naval Base San Diego, home to the US Pacific Fleet.
According to prosecutors, Wei knowingly sold US national defence information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China in exchange for about $12,000.
The information included, as per the US Department of Justice, thousands of documents, operating manuals and export-controlled technical data related to US Navy systems. Authorities said the material involved the ship’s weapons, propulsion and desalination systems, all considered sensitive to US military operations.
Wei held a US security clearance and had access to classified information through his role as a machinist’s mate aboard the USS Essex.
US officials said compromising information related to such vessels directly threatens US military readiness and the safety of service members.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Wei was recruited in February 2022 through social media by a Chinese intelligence officer who initially posed as a naval enthusiast. The relationship later developed into an intelligence operation, with Wei sharing sensitive information over time.
The jury convicted Wei on six counts, including: -He was found not guilty of one count of naturalisation fraud.
Senior US officials described the case as a serious betrayal of trust.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Wei “betrayed his country and compromised the national security of the United States,” adding that the Justice Department would not tolerate such conduct.
Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg said Wei “made a mockery” of his oath by selling US military secrets “for personal profit,” while FBI officials said the case underscored the threat posed by insider espionage.
US Attorney Adam Gordon said Wei’s actions “struck at the heart of our national security,” justifying the lengthy prison sentence.
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