A U.S. Navy sailor was convicted on Wednesday for selling military secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer. Jinchao Wei, 25, also known as Patrick Wei, was found guilty of six charges, including conspiracy to commit espionage and unlawful export of technical data. The jury's decision came in federal court in San Diego.

Wei, stationed at Naval Base San Diego, sold sensitive information about Navy warships for $12,000 over 18 months. He served as a machinist's mate on the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship, and held a security clearance that allowed him access to critical national defense information.

Prosecutors stated that Wei was approached in February 2022 via social media by someone posing as a naval enthusiast. This individual was actually a Chinese intelligence officer. Evidence presented in court indicated that Wei was aware of the officer's true intentions. He communicated with the officer using encrypted messaging apps and referred to him as "Big Brother Andy."

From March 2022 until his arrest in August 2023, Wei provided the officer with photographs, videos, and detailed information about the Essex's weapons systems and vulnerabilities. He also accessed restricted Navy computer systems to gather thousands of pages of technical manuals and operational data about various Navy ships.

During the trial, prosecutors highlighted that Wei had previously been briefed on the risks of foreign recruitment through social media. Despite this, he continued to engage with the intelligence officer, even admitting to a fellow sailor that he was involved in espionage. "This is quite obviously fucking espionage," Wei reportedly told his colleague.

Wei's actions were described as a severe breach of trust by U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. "By trading military secrets to the People’s Republic of China for cash, he jeopardized not only the lives of his fellow sailors but also the security of the entire nation and our allies," Gordon stated.

Wei is scheduled for sentencing on December 1, with the possibility of facing life in prison. His defense attorney acknowledged that Wei made significant errors in judgment but argued that the information he provided was outdated and of little consequence to national security.

The case against Wei is part of a broader concern regarding espionage activities targeting U.S. military personnel. Counterintelligence officials have noted a rise in what they term "virtual espionage," where intelligence officers exploit social media to extract sensitive information from military members.