October 11, 2023 at 03:46PM
A US Navy service member, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, pleaded guilty to receiving bribes from a Chinese spymaster in exchange for passing on American military secrets. Zhao, who worked at Naval Base Ventura County, faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiring with the Chinese intelligence officer and receiving a bribe. He confessed to illegally collecting and transmitting non-public information to the Chinese handler and destroying evidence of their relationship. Another Navy service member, Jinchao Wei, was also charged with spying-related crimes at a separate naval base in San Diego.
During the meeting, it was discussed that a US Navy service member, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, pleaded guilty to receiving bribes from a Chinese spymaster in exchange for passing on American military secrets. Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiring with a PRC intelligence officer and receiving a bribe. Sentencing is scheduled for January 8. Zhao worked at Naval Base Ventura County in California and had access to “secret” data due to his security clearance. The naval base supported the development and testing of missiles, electronic warfare systems, and other weapons. Zhao admitted to receiving at least $14,866 in bribes and provided non-public information about US Navy operational security, military training and exercises, and critical infrastructure to the Chinese spy. He also used encrypted communication methods and destroyed the evidence to cover up his relationship with the foreign intelligence officer. Another Navy service member, Jinchao Wei, was also arrested on spying-related charges at a separate naval base in San Diego, California. A former US Army sergeant was recently arrested and charged with trading secrets to China.