2 US Navy sailors arrested on charges tied to national security and China

A U.S. Navy sailor assigned to a ship in San Diego is in federal custody Thursday.

Jinchao Wei, aka Patrick Wei, was arrested Wednesday on espionage charges when he arrived for work at Naval Base San Diego.

He was indicted for conspiracy to send national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China.

The indictment, which was unsealed Thursday morning, alleges that Wei, was an active-duty sailor on the amphibious assault ship the U.S.S. Essex stationed at Naval Base San Diego. In his role as a machinist’s mate, Wei held a U.S. security clearance and had access to sensitive national defense information about the ship’s weapons, propulsion and desalination systems.

According to the indictment, in February 2022, Wei began communicating with an intelligence officer from the PRC who requested that Wei provide information about the U.S.S. Essex and other Navy ships. Specifically, the Chinese intelligence officer tasked Wei with passing him photos, videos and documents concerning U.S. Navy ships and their systems. The two agreed to hide their communications by deleting records of their conversations and using encrypted methods of communication.

“We have entrusted members of our military with tremendous responsibility and great faith,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California. “Our nation’s safety and security are in their hands. When a soldier or sailor chooses cash over country, and hands over national defense information in an ultimate act of betrayal, the United States will aggressively investigate and prosecute.”

[danzifer]

A 22 year old native Chinese who wasn't even a U.S. citizen, serving in the United States Navy and given access to vital data on our national security. Someone's gonna pay dearly for this.

[earlojones]

How does a non citizen get such high of a clearance

[joecarrizales]

Wow unbelievable how do we allow non American military members to have access to such high intelligence information..

[lamaisontokyo]

Hard to believe that USD15, 000 is all it takes to bribe a US petty officer 😮

[dansanpedro]

I was a green card holder when i joined the US Air Force so i couldn't get a security clearance until i got my citizenship which was three and half years later into my enlistment. I reenlisted after my 4 years and cross trained into another job which required a top secret SCI with 4 caveats. I retired after 21 years. I have seen a lot and would probably have made a lot of money selling what I know but it never ever crossed my mind. Not because i was afraid of going to jail but because I have too much pride of what i have accomplished as an immigrant and i could never betray the country that gave me everything.

[sootymammal]

Violations of Article 103a
If the service member is convicted of espionage as a capital offense, they face a maximum possible punishment of death

[joker_XD.]

America: recruite Chinese man to the military

Chinese man: leaks documents

America: 😲🤯😲🤯😲🤯😲😳😲🤯😲🤯😦😳😨😮😯😳😲

[kcuzz]

Why would someone who is not a citizen have access to classified documents???

[Vefyoutubecensorfutub]

The real question is how did a non citizen get that clearance. The other question is how deep does this go?

[jn]

So a non US citizen has access to classified materiel ??!! Way to go Navy !!
Send in the clowns !!

[johnr]

Our country is seemingly doomed. The incompetence is beyond disbelief.

[americanborn]

This happens when you recruit people who have no love of country. Sickening!

[ollielon]

How the hell do you get security clearance without being a US citizen?

[theowl]

If non citizens have access to these documents, imagine what our politicians have access to and what they do with them

[EyesWideOpenTruth]

How is it he was allowed to join the Military.
You as an American 🇺🇸 go to China 🇨🇳 and try to join their military and see what happens

[ashleejones]

the fact that noncitizens are being allowed into our Armed Forces at all, let alone given security clearance, is BAFFLING. Who does that?

[greyghost]

How the hell does a non US citizen get a secret clearance?

[maxmcgloin]

These sailors should be going to prison for the rest of their lives if convicted.

[PianoGuitarAndSongs]

THIS IS TREASON! DEATH PENALTY FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS

[BBradshawProductions]

Giving non-US citizens jobs that have access to US security data boggles my mine. I'm a loyal US citizen and can't even get anything close to what they got.