A former U.S. Navy sailor was sentenced to 16 years in prison for spying for China by selling ship secrets.

A 25-year-old former U.S. A San Diego-based Navy sailor was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to 200 months, or slightly more than 16 years, in prison for selling a Chinese intelligence officer sensitive technical and operational data about Navy ships, including the USS Essex. Wei, a second-class petty officer and engineer on board the Essex, was paid more than $12,000 for providing more than 60 manuals, images, videos, and information on ship locations and defensive systems between 2022 and 2023, according to the prosecution. An individual posing as a naval enthusiast connected to a state-owned Chinese shipbuilding company recruited him through social media. Wei continued to send classified information via encrypted messaging apps even after realizing the contact was suspicious and being told to stop communicating. The case illustrates the expanding U.S. worries about attempts by foreign intelligence, especially China, to use human sources to obtain military secrets. Wenheng Zhao, his co-defendant, entered a guilty plea and was given a lighter sentence. In a letter expressing regret, Wei blamed introversion and loneliness.