A former U.S. Navy sailor, who was found guilty of espionage on behalf of China, received a 200-month prison sentence this week.

Jinchao Wei, 25, was apprehended in August 2023 while serving as a machinist’s mate on the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship stationed at Naval Base San Diego. According to prosecutors, Wei exploited his position to gather sensitive data, which he then provided to a Chinese intelligence officer who had recruited him in February 2022. Over a period of 18 months, Wei received $12,000 for his actions.

“Members of the United States military pledge to support and defend the Constitution,” stated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Monday. “This active-duty U.S. Navy sailor betrayed his country and endangered the national security of the United States.”

Blanche further emphasized, “The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct. We are committed to investigating, defending, and safeguarding the interests of the American people.”

The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) was captured in a 2011 image off the northeastern coast of Japan. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark R. Alvarez/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

The Justice Department said Wei told FBI investigators following his arrest that, “I’m screwed,” and when asked why he felt that way, he said, “That I’m sharing the unclassified document to — I mean document with, uhm, him … I’m not supposed to do that.” 

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.   

“In one of his larger thefts of U.S. Navy data, Wei sold the intelligence officer at least 30 technical and operating manuals about U.S. Navy systems,” the Justice Department said. “These manuals contained export control warnings and detailed the operations of multiple systems aboard the Essex and similar ships, including power, steering, weapons control, aircraft and deck elevators, as well as damage and casualty controls.”

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. ( STR/AFP via Getty Images)

“In total, Wei sold the intelligence officer approximately 60 technical and operating manuals about U.S. Navy ships, as well as dozens of photographs and papers about the U.S. Navy and Wei’s assignments on the Essex. Many of the manuals contained conspicuous export-control warnings on their cover pages,” it added. 

“Wei swore loyalty to the United States when he joined the Navy and reaffirmed that oath when he became a citizen,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said in a statement. “He then accepted the solemn responsibility of protecting this Nation’s secrets when the United States entrusted him with sensitive Navy information.  He made a mockery of these commitments when he chose to endanger our Nation and our servicemembers by selling U.S. military secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer for personal profit.”

Multiple Chinese nationals, led by President Xi Jinping, have been arrested for spying on U.S. military bases. (Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

An attorney for Wei previously said he did not deny that his actions were wrong but characterized him as young and naive, arguing he “never intended to harm the United States.”