India, Jan. 14 -- The US Justice Department said a former US Navy sailor convicted of espionage for passing sensitive military information to China has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison.

Jinchao Wei, 25, also known as Patrick Wei, was convicted by a federal jury in August 2025 and sentenced in federal court following a five-day trial. Wei was arrested in August 2023 as he reported for duty aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex at Naval Base San Diego, the homeport of the US Pacific Fleet.

Federal prosecutors said Wei sold national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People's Republic of China in exchange for more than $12,000.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenb...