Former U.S. Navy Sailor Sentenced for Espionage
Jinchao Wei, a former U.S. Navy sailor, received a 200-month prison sentence in federal court today following his August 2025 conviction for espionage. Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023 at Naval Base San Diego while reporting for duty on the amphibious assault ship U.S.S. Essex. He was accused of selling national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China for $12,000.
Conviction Details
Following a five-day trial and one day of deliberation, a federal jury convicted Wei of six crimes. These included conspiracy to commit espionage, espionage, and unlawful export of technical data related to defense articles, violating the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations. He was acquitted on one count of naturalization fraud.
Compromised Information and Ship Details
In his role as a machinist’s mate, Wei held a U.S. security clearance and possessed access to sensitive national defense information concerning the U.S.S. Essex’s weapons, propulsion, and desalination systems. Amphibious assault ships, such as the Essex, are designed to project power and form a cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s amphibious readiness and expeditionary strike capabilities.
Recruitment and Awareness of Espionage
Wei was recruited in February 2022 by a Chinese intelligence officer via social media. The officer initially presented himself as a naval enthusiast affiliated with the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. Evidence indicated that Wei quickly suspected the officer's true identity and motives. On February 22, 2022, Wei informed a fellow Navy sailor that he believed he was “on the radar of a China intelligence organization” due to contact with an “extremely suspicious” individual interested in naval ship maintenance and movements, who offered him $500. Wei characterized this activity as