What specific information did Jinchao Wei provide to the Chinese intelligence officer?

Wei provided approximately 60 technical and operating manuals on U.S. Navy ship systems including power, steering, weapons control, aircraft and deck elevators, damage control, as well as photos, videos, ship locations, and details on defensive weapons.

What were the charges and sentence for Jinchao Wei?

Wei was convicted on six of seven charges including espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act, and sentenced to 200 months (over 16 years) in prison.

What is the USS Essex and what was Wei's role on it?

The USS Essex is an amphibious assault ship homeported at Naval Base San Diego, equipped to support over 2,000 Marines; Wei was a 25-year-old machinist's mate (petty officer second class) and engineer on the ship.

What did Wei say after his arrest and in his apology?

After arrest, Wei told FBI investigators 'I'm screwed' and admitted to espionage; in a letter to the judge, he apologized citing loneliness, introversion, and poor judgment.

4 sources

•

1M ago

Former US sailor sentenced to 16 years for selling ship intel to China

A former U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, was sentenced to 200 months in prison after being convicted of selling technical manuals and classified ship information to a Chinese intelligence officer for over $12,000.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Jinchao Wei, 25, an engineer on the USS Essex, was sentenced to 200 months after a jury convicted him of six crimes including espionage.

Wei was recruited via social media in 2022 by an intelligence officer posing as a naval enthusiast linked to China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

Over 18 months Wei provided about 60 technical and operating manuals, photos, and videos detailing ship systems, locations and defensive weapons.

Wei received over $12,000 for the materials; prosecutors said many manuals bore export-control warnings and detailed operational systems.

Authorities emphasized national security risks; Wei apologized in a letter citing loneliness and poor judgment while his attorney argued he was young and naive.

Written using shared reports from

4 sources

Report issue

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources cover this case with neutral, fact-focused reporting, relying on DOJ statements, court findings, and the defendant’s letter. They attribute claims ("prosecutors said"), present specific charges, evidence and prior related cases, and avoid loaded adjectives. Contextual details (Navy role, export warnings) appear as factual background rather than persuasive framing.

How we categorize media bias

Sources (4)

Compare how different news outlets are covering this story.

Sort By

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

: Wei provided approximately 60 technical and operating manuals on U.S. Navy ship systems including power, steering, weapons control, aircraft and deck elevators, damage control, as well as photos, videos, ship locations, and details on defensive weapons.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Justice - Southern District of California
: Wei was recruited in February 2022 via social media by a Chinese intelligence officer posing as a naval enthusiast linked to China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and he received over $12,000 over 18 months.
Sources:
Fox News
: Wei was convicted on six of seven charges including espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act, and sentenced to 200 months (over 16 years) in prison.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Justice
: The USS Essex is an amphibious assault ship homeported at Naval Base San Diego, equipped to support over 2,000 Marines; Wei was a 25-year-old machinist's mate (petty officer second class) and engineer on the ship.
Sources:
CBS News
: After arrest, Wei told FBI investigators 'I'm screwed' and admitted to espionage; in a letter to the judge, he apologized citing loneliness, introversion, and poor judgment.
Sources:
CBS News