Jinchao Wei, a United States Navy sailor, was arrested on espionage charges as he arrived for work at Naval Base San Diego. Wei is accused of conspiring to send national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China. The indictment alleges that Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, held a U.S. security clearance and had access to sensitive national defense information about the amphibious assault ship U.S.S. Essex, where he was stationed.
Amphibious assault ships like the Essex are crucial for the U.S. military as they resemble small aircraft carriers and allow them to project power and maintain a presence. These ships are the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s amphibious readiness and expeditionary strike capabilities.
The crime of espionage under U.S. Code Section 794 is reserved for the most serious circumstances involving the passage of national defense information that intends to harm the United States or benefit a foreign power. The indictment alleges that Wei began communicating with an intelligence officer from the People’s Republic of China in February 2022. The officer requested that Wei provide information about the U.S.S. Essex and other Navy ships.
Wei agreed to pass photos, videos, and documents concerning U.S. Navy ships and their systems to the Chinese officer. To hide their communications, they deleted records of their conversations and used encrypted methods. Wei received thousands of dollars for providing this information.
From March 2022 to the present, Wei sent photographs and videos of the Essex, disclosed the locations of various Navy ships, and described defensive weapons of the Essex – all in exchange for payment from the intelligence officer. In June 2022, Wei sent approximately 30 technical and mechanical manuals to the officer. These manuals contained export control warnings and detailed the operations of multiple systems aboard the Essex and similar ships.
Wei then sent an additional 26 technical and mechanical manuals related to the power structure and operation of the Essex in August 2022. These manuals contained export-controlled data deemed “critical technology” by the U.S. Navy. In October 2022, Wei sent a weapons control systems manual for the Essex and similar ships.
Throughout the alleged conspiracy, the intelligence officer instructed Wei to gather non-public U.S. military information and to destroy any evidence regarding their relationship and activities. Wei also violated the International Traffic in Arms Regulations by transmitting the manual to the Chinese intelligence officer without obtaining a required license.
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman emphasized the importance of trust placed on military members and the consequences when that trust is betrayed. He stated that the United States will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who choose cash over their country’s interests.
Special Agent in Charge Brice Miller of the NCIS Office of Special Projects highlighted the role of NCIS in rooting out those who put the nation’s warfighters at risk. He thanked the FBI and the Department of Justice for their assistance in this complex investigation.
FBI San Diego Field Office Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy emphasized the FBI’s commitment to protecting the United States’ most precious assets and combating threats from the Chinese government. The FBI remains dedicated to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling efforts by the People’s Republic of China to threaten national security.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding national defense information and the consequences of betrayal. The U.S. Navy and its intelligence partners will continue to work diligently to protect vital military assets and ensure the safety and security of the United States.
