A Navy service member, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and fined $5,500 after pleading guilty to conspiring with a Chinese intelligence officer and receiving a bribe.
He had been paid over $14,000 for sending sensitive military information to the officer, including details on U.S. Navy operational security and military exercises.
The Justice Department emphasized its commitment to combating Chinese government efforts to undermine national security. (Trending: Clintons Scramble To Delete Embarrassing Photo, But Were Too Slow)
A member of the U.S. Navy, Wenheng Zhao, 26, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for accepting bribe money in exchange for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to a Chinese intelligence officer. @RealNCIS @usao_losangeles @irs_ci https://t.co/eKvOFId9A5 pic.twitter.com/08gvwGStNR
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) January 9, 2024
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, “Mr. Zhao betrayed his solemn oath to defend his country and endangered those who serve in the U.S. military.”
“Today, he is being held to account for those crimes. The Justice Department is committed to combating the Chinese government’s efforts to undermine our nation’s security and holding accountable those who violate our laws as part of those efforts,” he continued.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California, said, “Zhao betrayed his country and disgraced himself when he accepted bribes from an intelligence officer with the People’s Republic of China.”
“As a result, he has now been removed from the military and will serve time in federal prison. Today’s sentence shows that my office will swiftly act to root out and punish those who seek to undermine our nation’s security,” he continued.
Zhao’s actions were condemned, and the investigation was led by the FBI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and IRS-Criminal Investigation unit.
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