U.S. Navy sailor convicted for spy

A U.S. Navy sailor in California was sentenced to espionage for selling the troops’ secrets to Chinese agents who recruited him through social media.

Jinchao Wei, 25, was convicted on six charges, including espionage, conspiracy to conduct espionage and illegal export of confidential data about U.S. Navy ships.

“The defendant’s actions represent a serious betrayal of his trust as a member of the U.S. military,” U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement after reading the verdict.

“By trading the military secret to the People’s Republic of China, he has endangered not only the lives of his sailors, but the safety of the entire country and our allies.”

Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023 on espionage charges, while working on an amphibious assault ship.

WEI is a naturalized U.S. citizen who served as a companion to a mechanic, has a security permit and has access to sensitive information about ships and other ships in the Pacific Fleet.

During the week-long trial, prosecutors provided evidence, including telephone conversations, electronic messages and audio messages that Wei had exchanged with his Chinese handlers.

Wei called his Chinese connection “Big Brother Andy” and was obliged to keep their relationship secrets by using multiple crypto apps to communicate and accept payments. WEI also used new computers and phones provided by his handlers.

A written exchange between Wei and his mother shows that Wei knows he is espionage.

Wei texted his mother and said: “Other Chinese who served in the U.S. Navy are still trying to figure out how to make money and then drive a taxi. Although I’m just leaking secrets.”

She replied, “Okay!”

Wei contacted Chinese agents in February 2022 while becoming a U.S. citizen.

He was recruited through social media by Chinese intelligence officials, who initially portrayed himself as a naval enthusiast working for the state-owned Chinese shipbuilding company.

There is evidence that Wei sent photos and videos of Essex, providing officials with locations of various naval ships and describing defensive weapons on board the Essex. He also described his ship and other ships’ problems.

In exchange for this information, Chinese intelligence officers paid WEI more than $12,000 in salary within 18 months. The WEI plan to be sentenced on December 1 and may face life in prison.

Unable to reach WEI for comment. The BBC has contacted WEI’s attorney for comment.

Wei (Wei) was arrested with Xiao Zhao in 2023arrested for sending sensitive photos and videos to Chinese intelligence officers, arrested for accepting more than $14,800.

Prosecutors said Zhao transmitted “a plan, operational order and electrical diagrams and blueprints for large-scale maritime training activities at the Pacific Theater for use in the ground/air mission radar system located in Okinawa, Japan.”

Zhao was found guilty last year and sentenced to 27 months in jail.