US Navy Sailor Convicted of Espionage for Leaking Secrets to China

China Spy Scandal: US Navy Sailor Sentenced for Espionage

The USS Essex (LHD-2), a key asset in the U.S. Navy's amphibious warfare fleet, pictured docked at Naval Base San Diego.

A U.S. Navy sailor has been found guilty of espionage after a federal jury concluded he sold sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Jinchao Wei, who served aboard the USS Essex at Naval Base San Diego, was convicted of multiple charges, including espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage, and the unlawful export of defense-related technical data. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2025.

Wei was acquitted on a separate charge of naturalization fraud.

“The defendant’s actions represent an egregious betrayal of the trust placed in him as a member of the U.S. military,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “By trading military secrets to the People’s Republic of China for cash, he jeopardized not only the lives of his fellow sailors but also the security of the entire nation and our allies.”

Espionage Details: What Wei Shared with China

According to the DOJ, Wei was recruited via social media in February 2022 by a Chinese intelligence officer. Over the course of 18 months, Wei provided:

• Photos and videos of the USS Essex

• Locations of U.S. Navy vessels at the San Diego base

• Thousands of pages of restricted technical and operational documents

He reportedly accessed this information from classified Navy computer systems and received more than $12,000 in payments.

Wei was arrested on August 2, 2023, as he arrived at work. During a post-arrest interview with the FBI, he confessed to the allegations, allegedly stating, “I’m screwed.”

Wei held the position of machinist’s mate, an engineering role responsible for maintaining and repairing key ship systems aboard the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship.

Second US Navy Spy Case in California

Wei’s conviction follows a similar case involving Wenheng Zhao, another California-based Navy sailor. Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy and bribery charges for sharing sensitive military data with a Chinese intelligence officer. He was sentenced to over two years in federal prison.

National Security Concerns Continue

The convictions of both sailors highlight growing concerns about foreign espionage and insider threats targeting the U.S. military. Federal officials reaffirmed their commitment to aggressively pursuing those who compromise national security.