Jinchao Wei, a 25-year-old petty officer second class and engineer aboard the USS Essex, was sentenced to 200 months after a jury convicted him on six counts, including espionage. Prosecutors say he sold about 60 technical and operating manuals and other material to an individual who posed as an employee of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and who was working for Chinese intelligence. Wei exchanged photos, videos and ship-location details over an 18-month period and received more than $12,000. In a letter to the court he apologized, saying his "introversion and loneliness" affected his judgment.
Former Navy Sailor Sentenced To Over 16 Years For Selling USS Essex Manuals To Chinese Intelligence
FILE -In this aerial photo taken Aug. 2, 2014, the U.S. Navy USS Essex is shown docked near downtown Seattle during the annual Seafair summer festival. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
A federal judge in San Diego sentenced 25-year-old Jinchao Wei to 200 months in prison after a jury convicted him on six counts, including espionage, for selling technical and operating manuals and other sensitive material to an individual working for Chinese intelligence, prosecutors said.
Case Details
Wei, a petty officer second class who served as an engineer aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, was paid more than $12,000 for the information he provided, the U.S. Department of Justice said. A federal jury found Wei guilty in August on multiple charges related to the transfer of classified and export-controlled materials.
How He Was Recruited
Prosecutors say Wei was recruited in 2022 through social media by an intelligence officer who posed as a naval enthusiast and as an employee of the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. Court evidence showed Wei told a friend the contact seemed "extremely suspicious" and was "quite obviously" espionage, but he ignored the advice to sever the connection. He then moved conversations to a different encrypted messaging app that he believed to be more secure.
What Was Shared
Over roughly 18 months, Wei sent the intelligence officer photos and videos of the Essex, identified the locations of various Navy vessels, and described the ship's defensive weapons, according to prosecutors. He sold about 60 technical and operating manuals, including guides related to weapons control systems, aircraft operations and deck elevators. Many of the manuals carried export-control warnings and contained detailed descriptions of systems aboard the Essex and similar ships.
Related Case
Wei was one of two California-based sailors charged on Aug. 3, 2023. The other sailor, Wenheng Zhao, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and receiving a bribe in violation of his duties and was sentenced in 2024 to slightly more than two years in prison.
Defendant's Statement
In a letter to the judge before sentencing, Wei apologized and said he should not have shared information with someone he considered a friend, writing that his "introversion and loneliness" clouded his judgment.
Context
U.S. officials have repeatedly warned about espionage threats tied to the Chinese government and have in recent years pursued criminal cases against operatives accused of stealing sensitive government and commercial information, including through illegal cyber intrusions. The Justice Department framed Wei's prosecution as part of those broader national security concerns.
Note: According to the Navy, the USS Essex is equipped to transport and support a Marine Corps landing force of more than 2,000 troops during air and amphibious assault operations.
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