Trial date set for Navy sailor accused of spying

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Monday’s listening to in federal court docket lasted a matter of minutes with a Dec. 3 trial date set for Jinchao Wei, the San Diego-based U.S. Navy sailor accused of espionage.

Wei, 22, was an active-duty sailor on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex when he was arrested final August as he arrived for work at Naval Base San Diego.

Federal prosecutors say Wei is a naturalized citizen who was promoting data to a Chinese language intelligence officer starting in February 2022.

Wei allegedly was paid hundreds of {dollars} for passing alongside pictures, movies and round 50 manuals of U.S. army intel to the Chinese language, together with delicate details about ships and upcoming army workout routines.

Wei, who was delivered to the U.S. by his mom when he was 16, has pleaded “not responsible” to all costs.

Together with new costs added final week, specifically naturalization fraud, with accusations that Wei was speaking together with his Chinese language handler throughout the course of to change into a U.S. citizen.

Wei was arrested the identical day as sailor Wenheng Zhao who was based mostly in Ventura County and likewise accused of taking bribes from China in change for U.S. army data.

Talking with Wei’s legal professional, he instructed FOX 5/KUSI off digicam he’s annoyed as a result of the 2 circumstances are very related, but Zhao was sentenced in January to 27 months, whereas U.S. attorneys have instructed him he can’t argue for lower than 12-and-a-half years for Wei.

Wei’s legal professional additionally instructed FOX 5/KUSI he’s nonetheless ready to get entry to proof in opposition to his consumer.

One other listening to is scheduled for subsequent month.