U.S. Navy sailor convicted of selling secrets to China

A federal jury on Wednesday convicted sailor Jinchao “Patrick” Wei of espionage and unlawfully exporting technical defense data. Wei agreed to sell Navy secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer for $12,000, according to the Justice Department. His six criminal convictions included one count of naturalization fraud, the department said.

Wei, age 25, was an active-duty sailor stationed at Naval Base San Diego when he committed the crimes. He worked as a machinist’s mate aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex and had a security clearance, according to the Justice Department. From 2022 to 2023, Wei sold a Chinese agent information about the ship, along with at least 60 operating manuals for Navy ships, the department said. Early on, Wei told a friend in the Navy that a new contact was asking him to engage in espionage, according to the Justice Department. The friend suggested deleting the contact. But Wei only transferred the suspicious person to an app that he thought was more secure, and eventually began referring to his handler as “Big Brother Andy,” according to the Justice Department.

How will he be punished? Wei was scheduled for sentencing in December, according to the Justice Department. He faces up to life in prison and a $1 million fine.

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