{"id":59531,"date":"2025-08-21T10:38:42","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T17:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=59531"},"modified":"2025-08-21T10:39:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T17:39:00","slug":"u-s-navy-sailor-convicted-of-espionage-for-passing-secrets-to-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=59531","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Navy Sailor Convicted of Espionage for Passing Secrets to China"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\"\"\"\"On Wednesday, a U.S. Navy sailor was convicted of espionage<\/strong> and other federal charges for providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer, federal officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to evidence presented at trial, Jinchao \u201cPatrick\u201d Wei<\/strong>, a machinist\u2019s mate on the amphibious assault ship U.S.S. Essex<\/strong>, held a U.S. security clearance that gave him access to restricted defense data.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors said Wei was recruited in February 2022<\/strong> through social media by someone posing as a naval enthusiast, who was in fact a Chinese intelligence officer. Over the next 18 months, Wei sent photographs, videos, and technical details<\/strong> about the Essex\u2019s systems and other Navy ships, much of it taken from restricted Navy computer systems<\/strong>. In exchange, he received more than $12,000<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evidence included conversations and messages<\/strong> between Wei and his Chinese handler that outlined tasks, payments, and efforts to conceal their activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to two espionage charges, Wei was also convicted on four counts of conspiring to violate and violating the Arms Export Control Act<\/strong>, which prohibits exporting defense-related technical data without State Department approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

The case was investigated by the FBI<\/strong> and NCIS<\/strong>, with assistance from the U.S. Department of State<\/strong> and the Transportation Security Administration<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Wednesday, a U.S. Navy sailor was convicted of espionage and other federal charges for providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer, federal officials stated. 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