Current:Home > MarketsRekubit-'Cash over country': Navy sailors arrested, accused of passing US military info to China -Capitatum
Rekubit-'Cash over country': Navy sailors arrested, accused of passing US military info to China
Indexbit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-06 07:18:01
Two Navy sailors were arrested and Rekubitcharged with transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to the Chinese government, officials said Thursday.
In two separate cases announced together, the Department of Justice said 22-year-old sailor Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was charged with espionage and arrested on Wednesday. And 26-year-old Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, was charged with receiving bribes in exchange for transmitting information to a Chinese intelligence officer.
“These individuals stand accused of violating the commitments they made to protect the United States and betraying the public trust, to the benefit of the (People's Republic of China) government,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said in a news release Thursday.
Sailor accused of sending Navy information to Chinese officer for money
Wei, who was an active duty sailor for the USS Essex at the Naval Base San Diego, was accused in an indictment of conspiracy to send national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China.
Because he held a security clearance, Wei had access to information about the ship's "weapons, propulsion and desalination systems," the Department of Justice said. Beginning in February 2022, Wei allegedly communicated with a Chinese intelligence officer who requested photos, video and documents about U.S. Navy ships. They used encrypted communication methods and deleted their messages to hide their conversations, the DOJ said.
Wei sent photos and videos of the Essex, shared locations of other Navy ships and described defensive weapons of the Essex with the officer, according to the news release. "In exchange for this information, the intelligence officer paid Wei thousands of dollars over the course of the conspiracy," the DOJ said.
LEAKED DOCUMENTS:Jack Teixeira, alleged Pentagon leaker of classified defense documents, indicted on 6 counts
The Justice Department charged Wei under a rarely-used Espionage Act statute that makes it a crime to gather or deliver information to aid a foreign government.
Wei sent the officer dozens of technical manuals about Essex and systems on other U.S. ships, according to the indictment. The officer told Wei at least 10 of those manuals were useful, and paid him $5,000 for them, the DOJ said, noting that Wei provided information throughout 2022 and into 2023.
Wei was born in China and was initially approached by the officer while beginning the process of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, prosecutors said, and once admitted to the officer that he knew his actions could affect his application. The officer even congratulated Wei once he obtained citizenship.
"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," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Randy Grossman said.
Sailor accused of receiving nearly $15,000 for 'sensitive' materials
Zhao was accused of receiving bribes in exchange for information he gave to a Chinese intelligence officer posing as a maritime economic researcher, the DOJ said. He worked at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme and also had security clearance.
From August 2021 to May 2023, Zhao "violated his official duties to protect sensitive military information by surreptitiously recording, and then transmitting to the intelligence officer, U.S. military information, photographs and videos," according to the DOJ.
Zhao was paid about $14,866 for the information he gave the official, the news release said.
WHAT IS THE ESPIONAGE ACT?:What to know from its original purpose to who has been charged.
It wasn't clear whether or how the two cases were connected, or whether either Navy service member had an attorney who could comment on their behalf.
"China is unrivaled in its audacity and the range of its maligned efforts to subvert our laws," Grossman said Thursday.
Contributing: The Associated Press
veryGood! (296)
Related
- Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
- The number of fish on US overfishing list reaches an all-time low. Mackerel and snapper recover
- Detroit Tigers' City Connect uniforms hit the street with plenty of automotive connections
- Utah police officer killed in suspected highway hit-and-run, authorities say
- Charges: D'Vontaye Mitchell died after being held down for about 9 minutes
- For farmers, watching and waiting is a spring planting ritual. Climate change is adding to anxiety
- Interstate 95 in Connecticut reopens after fiery gas tanker left it closed for days
- Dallas Stars knock out defending champion Vegas Golden Knights with Game 7 win
- Breaking debut in Olympics raises question: Are breakers artists or athletes?
- Long Beach shooting injures 7, 4 critically wounded, police say
Ranking
- 'Stranger Things' prequel 'The First Shadow' is headed to Broadway
- Kristin Cavallari’s Boyfriend Mark Estes Meets Her Former Laguna Beach Costars
- How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Changed the Royal Parenting Rules for Son Archie
- Bus crash on Maryland highway leaves 1 dead, multiple injured: What to know
- 3 years after the NFL added a 17th game, the push for an 18th gets stronger
- Brian Austin Green’s Ex Vanessa Marcil Slams “Stupid” Criticism Aimed at Megan Fox
- 3 surprising ways to hedge against inflation
- Boy shot dead after Perth stabbing was in deradicalization program, but no ties seen to Sydney teens
Recommendation
In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
Five things we learned at Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris’ win will boost Formula 1 in U.S.
Man arrested, accused of trying to shoot pastor during sermon at Pennsylvania church
Powerball winning numbers for May 4: Jackpot rises to $203 million
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Teen fatally shot by police outside school was wielding a pellet gun, authorities say
North Dakota state rep found guilty of misdemeanor charge tied to budget votes and building
Lawsuit alleges decades of child sex abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers statewide