A San Diego-based U.S. Navy sailor accused of selling military secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer was convicted Wednesday of espionage, conspiracy, and other charges.
Jinchao Wei, 25, who worked as a machinist’s mate aboard the USS Essex, sent sensitive information pertaining to U.S. Navy ships to a person he met online, according to prosecutors.
A San Diego federal jury convicted Wei on Wednesday of six out of seven counts he faced. He was found not guilty of one count of committing naturalization fraud.
Prosecutors allege Wei was initially contacted by the alleged officer in early 2022 over a Chinese social media site.
During those initial conversations, Wei was offered $500 to look into where various Navy ships were docked, which prosecutors say prompted Wei to tell a fellow