Former US Navy sailor sentenced for selling ship manuals and information to a China-linked intelligence officer

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
8m ago
Former US Navy sailor Jinchao Wei was sentenced to 200 months in prison for selling technical manuals and sharing information about the USS Essex with an intelligence officer working for China.
Former US Navy sailor sentenced for selling ship manuals and information to a China-linked intelligence officer
A What happened
A federal judge in San Diego sentenced Jinchao Wei, 25, to 200 months in prison for selling technical and operating manuals and sharing information with an intelligence officer working for China. A jury convicted Wei in August of six crimes, including espionage, and the US Department of Justice said he was paid more than $12,000 for selling information. Prosecutors said Wei was recruited via social media in 2022 and, over 18 months, sent photos and videos of the USS Essex, provided ship locations, and described the Essex’s defensive weapons. Wei apologised in a letter to the judge and said “introversion and loneliness” clouded his judgement.

Key insights

  • 1

    Recruitment and continued contact despite suspicion: Prosecutors said Wei identified the contact as suspicious and “quite obviously” espionage, but continued communication and moved it to an encrypted messaging app he believed to be more secure.

  • 2

    Information sold included export-controlled manuals: Prosecutors said Wei sold 60 technical and operating manuals that contained export control warnings and detailed ship systems.

Takeaways

Jinchao Wei received a 200-month federal prison sentence for espionage-linked conduct involving the USS Essex and an intelligence officer working for China.

Topics

World & Politics International Affairs Security & Defense Law & Public Safety Crime & Justice

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