A former United States Navy sailor has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for selling sensitive military information to Chinese intelligence operatives, US authorities said on Monday. A federal judge in San Diego sentenced 25-year-old Jinchao Wei to 200 months behind bars after a jury found him guilty of multiple espionage-related charges.
Prosecutors said Wei, who served as an engineer aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, sold technical and operational manuals, photos, and videos related to US Navy ships and defense systems. He was paid more than $12,000 over an 18-month period for sharing classified material, including details about ship locations and defensive weapons.
According to court records, Wei was recruited through social media in 2022 by an individual posing as a naval enthusiast but later identified as a Chinese intelligence officer. Despite expressing suspicions to a friend and being warned to cut contact, Wei continued communication using encrypted messaging apps.
US officials have repeatedly warned about growing espionage threats linked to China, particularly involving military and technological secrets. In a statement before sentencing, Wei apologised for his actions, saying loneliness and poor judgment led him to betray his duties.
The case is part of broader US efforts to crack down on foreign espionage and protect national security amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing.
A 9th-grade student in Tripura faces detention after alleged assault on a six-year-old neighbor in K
Toshifumi Suzuki, the founder of 7-Eleven Japan and a pioneer in convenience retail, has died at the
A nine-story construction project collapsed in Angeles City, leaving 21 individuals unaccounted for
Bahrain's court has sentenced nine individuals to life, citing connections to Iran's IRGC, raising f
