Former Navy Sailor Found Guilty of Exporting Military Information to Chinese Intelligence
Jinchao Wei, a former sailor with the U.S. Navy, was found guilty this week after being accused of illegally exporting military information and technical data to China. Wei was convicted on several counts, including espionage and illegally exporting technical data related to defense articles in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1.
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DOJ said Wei, who was arrested in 2023, sent technical manuals subject to export controls -- along with photographs, videos and other sensitive information about U.S. weapons -- to a Chinese intelligence officer (see 2308030077). The agency said the officer paid Wei $12,000 in exchange for the information.
Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, said China is “aggressively” targeting American military members with and without clearances to gain access to sensitive U.S. information and technology. “This guilty verdict shows the FBI and our partners will aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone who threatens U.S. national security,” Rozhavsky said. “We encourage past and present U.S. government personnel to beware of anyone offering to pay for their information or opinions and to report any suspicious contacts to the FBI.”