SAN DIEGO — A U.S. Navy sailor has been sentenced to simply over two years in federal jail for transmitting delicate U.S. army info to a Chinese language intelligence officer.
Wenheng Zhao, 26, who’s often known as Thomas Zhao, of Monterey Park, was sentenced Monday to 27 months by a federal decide in Los Angeles. He pleaded responsible to 1 rely of conspiracy and one rely of receiving a bribe in violation of his official duties. He was additionally fined $5,500. His protection lawyer, Tarek Shawky, couldn’t be instantly reached for remark Tuesday.
Zhao, based mostly at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, north of Los Angeles, collected almost $15,000 in bribes in 14 totally different funds from a Chinese language intelligence officer in trade for info, images and movies of involving Navy workouts, operations and services between August 2021 via at the least Could 2023, prosecutors mentioned.
He held a U.S. safety authorities clearance and underwent routine trainings on efforts by hostile nation states to amass delicate info, in response to the U.S. Justice Division.
The knowledge included plans for a large-scale U.S. army train within the Indo-Pacific area, which detailed the placement and timing of naval power actions. The Chinese language officer informed Zhao the data was wanted for maritime financial analysis to tell funding choices, in response to courtroom paperwork.
The Chinese language officer supplied to pay Zhao bonuses for managed and labeled info, in response to prosecutors.
Zhao used encrypted communications to transmit the data to the intelligence officer and destroyed the proof to cover their relationship, prosecutors mentioned.
“Mr. Zhao abdicated his oath to the US and put American troops in hurt’s means when he accessed and handed over delicate info to China for a payout,” mentioned Donald Alway, the assistant director accountable for the FBI’s Los Angeles Discipline Workplace in an announcement.
Zhao was considered one of two U.S. Navy sailors based mostly in California who had been charged final summer time with offering delicate army info to China.
The 2 sailors had been charged with related strikes to supply delicate intelligence to the Chinese language. However they had been separate circumstances, and it wasn’t clear if the 2 had been courted or paid as half of a bigger scheme.
Jinchao Wei, generally known as Patrick Wei, was assigned to the San Diego-based USS Essex when he was arrested final August whereas boarding the ship. He’s accused of offering detailed info on the weapons methods and plane aboard the Essex and different amphibious assault ships that act as small plane carriers.
He might obtain a life sentence if convicted. He has pleaded not responsible and that case is ongoing.
U.S. officers have for years expressed concern concerning the espionage menace they are saying the Chinese language authorities poses, bringing legal circumstances lately in opposition to Beijing intelligence operatives who’ve stolen delicate authorities and business info, together with via unlawful hacking.
U.S. officers mentioned the circumstances exemplify China’s brazenness in making an attempt to acquire perception into U.S. army operations.
© Copyright 2024 Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials is probably not printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
