Navy sailor faces life in prison after selling military secrets to China for $12K payment

A Navy sailor may face life in prison after a San Diego jury found him guilty of selling military secrets to China on Thursday. 

Prosecutors said Jinchao "Patrick" Wei, 25, used his position as a machinist’s mate on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex at Naval Base San Diego to collect sensitive information and offer it to a Chinese intelligence officer who recruited him in February 2022. Wei held a security clearance and had access to information about the weapons systems aboard the Essex. 

In exchange, the officer paid Wei $12,000 over a year and a half.

A jury convicted Wei on six of seven charges: espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage, conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and three counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act. 

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