SAN DIEGO — A United States Navy sailor accused of selling military secrets to China pleaded not guilty in federal court on Wednesday.
Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was a machinist’s mate on the USS Essex from Naval Base San Diego.
Prosecutors accuse him of conspiracy to send national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China and the new charge of lying in his naturalization process.
Wei was back in court on Wednesday to face a superseding indictment. This replaces or amends the original indictment because of the new charges against Wei.
In addition to trying to sell navy intelligence, prosecutors said Wei lied during his citizenship naturalization process. The indictment says he started corresponding with the Chinese official before he was naturalized but lied under oath in the naturalization process.
As a machinist's mate, Wei had a US security clearance and had access to sensitive national defense information about the ship, its weapons and its whereabouts.
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California said earlier, "Wei provided China with photographs of military hardware including guns vehicles and planes, he delivered information about us marines on an upcoming maritime war exercise, and he sold scores of technical and mechanical manuals about the power structure of amphibious assault ships."
Oscar Valencia, is a local federal criminal defense attorney and former member of the Marine Corps who shared insight into Wei’s case.
Valencia says Wei is now facing life in prison for selling national defense information for $15,000 and reimbursement for a laptop.
"It's pretty sad when I think about it as a former member of the marine corps it really hits home because to think anyone is going to sell out their country for $15,000 or any amount, even if they offer millions of dollars the answer should always be no. Especially when you're wearing that uniform," he said.
Valencia says cases like this are rare because most service members truly love their country.
If this sounds familiar, there’s another case out of Los Aangeles where another navy servicemember, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, of Monterrey Park was also arrested for selling information to someone who was posing as a maritime economic researcher but was an intelligence officer from The People’s Republic of China.
Wei’s defense attorney, Jason Conforti declined to comment on this story but says he looks forward to defending his client in court.
Wei’s next federal court appearance is set for March 18 at 10 a.m.
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