Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Ex-Navy Sailor Sentenced for Chinese Espionage
A former US Navy sailor named Jinchao Wei was sentenced to over 16 years in prison for spying for China.
He shared secret information about US Navy ships, including how they work and their defense systems.
Wei was paid about $13,000 for this.
He admitted to giving thousands of pages of secret documents to a Chinese intelligence officer.
The US government said this was a very serious crime and that Wei broke his oath to protect the country.
Another sailor, Wenheng Zhao, was also involved and got a shorter prison sentence.
The FBI and other agencies worked together to catch Wei and stop him from sharing more secrets.
Jinchao Wei, a former US Navy sailor, was sentenced to 200 months in prison for espionage.
Wei sold classified Navy materials, including technical and operational manuals, to a Chinese intelligence officer.
He received approximately $13,000 for sharing secret information over an 18-month period.
Wei admitted to giving thousands of pages of sensitive documents to his handler and knew his actions were wrong.
Another sailor, Wenheng Zhao, was also charged and sentenced for providing sensitive military information to China.
- Who
- Jinchao Wei, a former US Navy sailor
- What
- Sold classified Navy materials to Chinese intelligence
- When
- Over an 18-month period, sentenced in 2024
- Where
- San Diego, California
- Why
- For personal profit and to aid Chinese intelligence
- Name
- Jinchao Wei
- Age
- 25
- Sentence
- 200 months (16 years, 8 months)
- Crimes
- Espionage, selling classified materials
- Ship
- USS Essex
- Payment
- $13,000
- Duration of Espionage
- 18 months
- Co-conspirator
- Wenheng Zhao
