Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Selling Secrets and Taking Bribes from China

A U.S. Navy service member, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, pleaded guilty to conspiring with a Chinese intelligence officer and receiving bribes in exchange for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information. Zhao, who held a security clearance and worked at Naval Base Ventura County, admitted to collecting and transmitting non-public information regarding U.S. Navy operational security, military trainings, and critical infrastructure. He used encrypted communication methods and destroyed evidence to conceal his actions. Zhao faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service conducted the investigation.