Former Navy sailor sentenced to over 16 years in prison for spying for China: DOJ

A former Navy sailor was sentenced to over16 years in prison for spying for China, after being convicted of espionage last summer, according to the Justice Department.The defendant, Jinchao “Patrick” Wei, 25, was sentenced in federal court on Monday to 200 months in prison, per the DOJ.
Wei was convicted of espionage in August, after receiving $12,000 over 18 months, as an active duty sailor, in exchange for spying for China.
He was convicted of six crimes, including conspiracy to commit espionage, espionage, and unlawful export of, and conspiracy to export, technical data related to defense articles in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. He is a China-born naturalized U.S. citizen, and was found not guilty of one count of naturalization fraud.
“Members of the United States military swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Monday. “This active-duty U.S. Navy sailor betrayed his country and compromised the national security of the United States. The Justice Department will not tolerate this behavior. We stand ready to investigate, defend, and protect the interests of the American people.”
Wei sold Navy secrets while working as a machinist’s mate on the amphibious assault ship, the USS Essex, at Naval Base San Diego, before his arrest in August 2023.
Federal prosecutors told the jury during the five-day trial that Wei held a U.S. security clearance and had access to sensitive national defense information about Essex’s weapons, propulsion, and desalination systems.
A Chinese intelligence officer recruited Wei via social media in February 2022 after initially portraying himself as a naval enthusiast who worked for the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, according to prosecutors.
Per the Chinese intelligence officer’s request, Wei sent photos and videos of the Essex, “advised the officer of the location of various Navy ships, and described the defensive weapons of the Essex” from March 2022 until his arrest, DOJ prosecutors said.
“Wei called his handler ‘Big Brother Andy’ and obliged requests to keep their relationship secret,” and used encrypted apps and other methods, including a new computer and phone provided by his Chinese handler, per the evidence.
“The evidence showed that even during the early days of his espionage career, Wei strongly suspected the intelligence officer’s true identity and motive,” the DOJ said.
Wei told a Navy friend he thought he was “on the radar of a China intelligence organization” after the Chinese officer offered to pay him $500 and said he was “no idiot” and that “this is quite obviously f**king espionage,” according to the DOJ.
While Wei’s friend suggested that he delete the contact, the next day, Wei transitioned his communications with the Chinese officer to a different encrypted messaging app that he believed was more secure and began spying for him.

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