The U.S. Department of Justice released the below:
In
two separate cases in the Southern and Central Districts of California, two
U.S. Navy servicemembers were arrested for transmitting sensitive military
information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“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 PRC government,” said Assistant
Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security
Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to use every tool in
our arsenal to counter threats from China and to deter those who aid them in
breaking our laws and threatening our national security.”
“These arrests are a reminder of the relentless, aggressive
efforts of the People’s Republic of China to undermine our democracy and
threaten those who defend it,” said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the
FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The PRC compromised enlisted personnel to
secure sensitive military information that could seriously jeopardize U.S.
national security. The FBI and our partners remain vigilant in our
determination to combat espionage, and encourage past and present government
officials to report any suspicious interactions with suspected foreign
intelligence officers.”
United States v. Jinchao Wei, Southern
District of California
A U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, aka Patrick Wei, was arrested
yesterday on espionage charges as he arrived for work at Naval Base San Diego,
the homeport of the Pacific Fleet. He was indicted for conspiracy to send
national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the
People’s Republic of China.
The indictment, unsealed this 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. Amphibious
assault ships like the Essex resemble small aircraft carriers and allow the
U.S. military to project power and maintain presence by serving as the
cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s amphibious readiness and expeditionary strike
capabilities.
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.
At the request of the intelligence officer, between March 2022
and the present, Wei sent photographs and videos of the Essex, disclosed the
locations of various Navy ships and described defensive weapons of the Essex.
In exchange for this information, the intelligence officer paid Wei thousands
of dollars over the course of the conspiracy.
The indictment further alleges that in June 2022, Wei sent the
intelligence officer approximately 30 technical and mechanical manuals. These
manuals contained export control warnings and detailed the operations of
multiple systems aboard the Essex and similar ships, including power, steering,
aircraft and deck elevators, as well as damage and casualty controls. The
intelligence officer confirmed with Wei that at least 10 of those manuals were
useful to him. For passage of those materials, the indictment alleges that Wei
was paid $5,000.
In June 2022, the intelligence officer requested that Wei
provide information about the number and training of U.S. Marines during an
upcoming international maritime warfare exercise. In response to this request,
Wei sent multiple photographs of military equipment to the intelligence
officer.
In August 2022, Wei sent an additional 26 technical and
mechanical manuals related to the power structure and operation of the Essex
and similar ships. The manuals contained warnings that this was technical data
subject to export controls and that it was deemed “critical technology” by the
U.S. Navy.
The indictment further alleges that in October 2022, Wei sent a
technical manual to the intelligence officer describing the layout and location
of certain departments, including berthing quarters and weapons systems.
Specifically, Wei sent a weapons control systems manual for the Essex and
similar ships. This manual contained export-controlled data that could not be
exported without a license from the U.S. government. The indictment alleges
that Wei knowingly violated the International Traffic in Arms Regulations by
transmitting this manual to the Chinese intelligence officer without obtaining
a required license.
The intelligence officer continued to request information in
2023, including information about the overhaul and upgrades to the Essex.
Specifically, he requested blueprints, especially those related to
modifications to the flight deck. Wei provided information related to the
repairs the Essex was undergoing, as well as other mechanical problems with
similar vessels.
During the alleged conspiracy, the intelligence officer
instructed Wei to gather U.S. military information that was not public and
admonished him not to discuss their relationship and to destroy any evidence
regarding the nature of their relationship and their activities.
“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.”
U.S. Attorney Grossman thanked the prosecution team and
investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case.
The FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Parmley and Fred Sheppard for the
Southern District of California and Trial Attorney Adam Barry of the National
Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are
prosecuting the case.
United States v. Wenheng Zhao, Central
District of California
A U.S. Navy servicemember, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, aka
Thomas Zhao, 26, of Monterey Park, California, was arrested following an
indictment by a federal grand jury, charging him with receiving bribes in
exchange for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to an individual
posing as a maritime economic researcher, but who was actually an intelligence
officer from the PRC.
The indictment alleges that Zhao, who worked at Naval Base
Ventura County in Port Hueneme and held a U.S. security clearance, received
bribes from a Chinese intelligence officer in exchange for violating his
official duties as a U.S. sailor by, among other actions, disclosing non-public
sensitive U.S. military information.
Beginning in August 2021 and continuing through at least May
2023, at the Chinese intelligence officer’s direction, Zhao allegedly 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 indictment,
the Chinese intelligence officer told Zhao that the intelligence officer was a
maritime economic researcher seeking the information for investment decisions.
In exchange for bribes, Zhao allegedly sent the Chinese military
officer non-public and controlled operational plans for a large-scale U.S.
military exercise in the Indo-Pacific Region, which detailed the specific
location and timing of Naval force movements, amphibious landings, maritime
operations and logistics support.
The indictment further alleges that in exchange for bribes, Zhao
also photographed electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system
stationed on a U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan.
The intelligence officer allegedly directed Zhao to conceal
their relationship and to destroy evidence of the unlawful and corrupt scheme.
In exchange for the sensitive information Zhao provided –
information Zhao accessed as a result of his position within the U.S. Navy –
the Chinese intelligence officer paid Zhao approximately $14,866, the
indictment alleges.
“By sending this sensitive military information to an
intelligence officer employed by a hostile foreign state, the defendant
betrayed his sacred oath to protect our country and uphold the Constitution,”
said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California.
“Unlike the vast majority of U.S. Navy personnel who serve the nation with
honor, distinction and courage, Mr. Zhao chose to corruptly sell out his
colleagues and his country.”
If convicted, Zhao faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in
prison.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber
Division and NCIS investigated the case. IRS Criminal Investigation provided
substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annamartine Salick, Sarah Gerdes,
Christine Ro and Kathrynne Seiden of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section
for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case. Trial
Attorney Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and
Export Control Section is providing substantial assistance.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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