According to the New York Post, U.S. Navy sailor Jinchao Wei, who was born in China and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, was sentenced by a federal judge on Monday to 200 months in prison, almost 17 years. The Department of Justice stated that, encouraged by his mother, Wei sold sensitive U.S. naval defense information to the Chinese government, and received more than $12,000 in payment.
Federal prosecutors in San Diego, California said that 25-year-old Wei was condemned in court as a “traitor” by the judge for selling national defense information to intelligence officers of the People’s Republic of China. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “This active-duty Navy sailor betrayed his country and seriously endangered U.S. national security.”
Jinchao Wei knew it was espionage but continued cooperating
Investigations showed that in February 2022, while applying for U.S. citizenship, Wei came into contact via social media with a man who claimed to be “very interested in warships.” The man initially posed as an employee of the Chinese state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, but was later confirmed to be a Chinese foreign intelligence officer, whom Wei privately referred to as “Brother Andy.”
Wei once told friends that the individual was “extremely suspicious,” and said someone was offering him $500 per day to “walk around the pier and see which ships were docked,” and that he realized “this was clearly naked espionage.”
Despite this, tempted by money, from March 2022 to August 2023 he used encrypted messaging apps to provide the other party with photos and videos of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, as well as the ship’s locations and details on weapons and systems.
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Over the 18-month period, he received more than $12,000 — roughly 20 percent of his annual Navy salary. In one “major transaction,” he provided at least 30 U.S. Navy technical and operational manuals, some of which involved export-controlled information.
His mother knew and encouraged him
Prosecutors also stated that Wei’s mother knew he was engaging in espionage but not only failed to stop him — she encouraged him to continue working with the Chinese side, believing it would help him obtain a position in the Chinese government in the future.
Chinese intelligence personnel expressed willingness to arrange an in-person meeting in China with Wei and his mother. Investigators found that before his arrest, Wei indeed searched online for flights to China. It remains unclear whether his mother will face criminal charges.
During the trial, prosecutors submitted extensive call records, text messages, and voice messages that detailed their methods of communication, task assignments, secrecy measures, and payment processes. The Chinese intelligence officer used encrypted software, 72-hour “digital dead-drop boxes,” frequently deleted accounts, and provided Wei with new phones and computers to evade detection.
Guilty plea and request for leniency rejected
According to The Washington Post, in a handwritten letter submitted to the judge before sentencing, Wei admitted, “Yes, I screwed up,” and asked the court for “love and mercy.” His attorney asked for only a 30-month sentence, arguing his actions were not driven by hatred of the U.S. or by a desire for huge profits.
However, in August 2025, the jury found him guilty on six counts, including conspiracy to commit espionage, espionage, and illegal export of defense technical data in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Only one count of naturalization fraud was not upheld.
Wei enlisted in 2021 and served as a machinist at Naval Base San Diego. He held a security clearance that allowed him access to key information on ship weapons, propulsion, and desalination systems. Naval Criminal Investigative Service Director Omar Lopez stated, “He knew exactly what he was doing. He betrayed his fellow sailors and the American people.”
This case occurred amid intense U.S.–China relations. Wei was one of two U.S. Navy personnel arrested in California in 2023 for engaging in espionage for China. The other defendant, Wenheng (Thomas) Zhao, pled guilty in 2024 and was sentenced to more than two years in prison and fined $5,500.
