US Navy Sailor Convicted of Espionage for Selling Secrets to China

Sun Oct 19 2025 02:52:53 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Jinchao Wei, a US Navy sailor, has been convicted of espionage for selling classified military information to a Chinese agent through social media.

Jinchao Wei, a 25-year-old US Navy sailor, was convicted of multiple espionage-related charges after selling sensitive Navy data to a Chinese intelligence officer. Wei, who had a security clearance and provided information about Navy ships, faces a potential life sentence when sentenced in December.

A US Navy sailor stationed in California has been found guilty of espionage for engaging in clandestine activities that compromised military operations by selling classified information to a Chinese agent. Jinchao Wei, 25, was convicted on six charges, including espionage and conspiracy, following evidence presented during a weeklong trial.

Prosecutors revealed that Wei, who also goes by Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023 as he reported for duty at the amphibious assault ship USS Essex. An American citizen of Chinese descent, Wei held a security clearance, which allowed him access to sensitive data about USS Essex and other vessels in the Pacific fleet.

US Attorney Adam Gordon criticized Wei's actions as an "egregious betrayal" of the trust placed in him by the military. He highlighted that Wei's decision to sell military secrets for monetary gain not only endangered the lives of his colleagues but also threatened national security and that of allied nations.

The charges against Wei stem from his recruitment by a Chinese intelligence officer through social media in early 2022. Posing as a naval enthusiast associated with the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, the agent successfully coerced Wei into providing classified information, ultimately paying him over $12,000 over a span of 18 months.

Evidence presented in court included digitally cataloged communications between Wei and his Chinese handler, with Wei referring to him as "Big Brother Andy." He utilized multiple encrypted apps for their correspondence to conceal their relationship.

In a revealing text exchange introduced as evidence, Wei confided to his mother about "leaking secrets" and expressed satisfaction with his activities in contrast to other individuals of Chinese descent serving in the Navy. Wei's mother replied with encouragement, indicating awareness of the gravity of his actions.

Wei’s case builds on a larger investigation, as he was arrested alongside Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, who was charged with accepting payments for sending sensitive images and data to a Chinese intelligence officer. Zhao pleaded guilty last year and received a 27-month prison sentence.

Wei is set to be sentenced on December 1 and faces the possibility of life in prison. As of now, he has not provided any comments following his conviction, and inquiries to his attorney have yet to receive a response.