Navy sailor charged with selling military secrets to China was allegedly encouraged by his mother to continue scheme

A San Diego-based Navy sailor who was recently charged with selling military secrets to China was allegedly encouraged by his mother to continue the illegal scheme, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Sheppard.

Jinchao Wei, one of two United States Navy sailors recently arrested for allegedly providing Chinese intelligence officers with sensitive military information, appeared before a judge on Tuesday.

The China-born 22-year-old was denied bail by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle Pettit after prosecutors argued Wei was a flight risk.

Sheppard claimed Wei is a danger to the public based on the information he allegedly provided to the Chinese intelligence officer. He also stated that Wei is "certainly a danger to the thousands of sailors who are on those ships and transported by those ships."

The intelligence officer reportedly asked Wei in February 2022 to provide military secrets. During that time, the sailor was applying for U.S. citizenship.

Wei's mother, who was not named, was aware that her son was selling information to China and encouraged him to continue to do so because it might lead to future job opportunities with the Chinese government, Sheppard told the judge. He noted that Wei's mother made the comments to her son while they were together for Christmas.

Wei, who was an active-duty sailor serving as a machinist's mate on the U.S.S. Essex stationed at Naval Base San Diego when he was arrested last week, is facing espionage charges and the possibility of life in prison.

According to the Department of Justice, Wei used his security clearance and access to sensitive defense information to provide the Chinese intelligence officer with details about the U.S.S. Essex and other ships.

"Specifically, the Chinese intelligence officer tasked Wei with passing him photos, videos and documents concerning U.S. Navy ships and their systems. The two agreed to hide their communications by deleting records of their conversations and using encrypted methods of communication," the DOJ stated in a press release.

Wei was accused of providing the intelligence officer with information about defensive weapons, as well as 60 technical and mechanical manuals for systems aboard Navy ships. Additionally, the sailor allegedly disclosed the locations of various ships.

"In June 2022, the intelligence officer requested that Wei provide information about the number and training of U.S. Marines during an upcoming international maritime warfare exercise. In response to this request, Wei sent multiple photographs of military equipment to the intelligence officer," the DOJ reported.

It is unclear how much Wei made from selling the sensitive defense information to the Chinese intelligence officer, though officials estimated between $10,000 and $15,000.

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