A US Navy SEAL has admitted to accepting bribes from Chinese intelligence officials in exchange for passing sensitive US military information to communist powers.
Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, of Monterey Park, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conniving with an intelligence officer and one count of receiving a bribe, both felonies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
“Officer Zhao betrayed his country and the men and women of the US Navy by accepting bribes from a foreign enemy,” US Attorney Martin Estrada said Tuesday. “While he and the PRC officials he served worked hard to hide their corrupt plans, investigators were vigilant in uncovering this shameful scheme.”
“Today’s resolution, which requires Zhao to plead guilty to all charges against him, shows that we will act swiftly and decisively to protect our country from those who seek to undermine our security.”
Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the charge. PO 2nd Class Michael Lopez/US Navy Photo
Zhao admitted to accepting nearly $15,000 in bribes from Chinese intelligence officials between August 2021 and May 2023, when he worked at the Ventura County Naval Base in Port Hueneme, Calif.
Zhao, who held a security clearance, secretly collected and sent information to China related to the security of Navy operations, military exercises and critical infrastructure, according to the Justice Department.
He specifically claimed to have delivered plans for large-scale maritime training exercises in the Pacific theater, operational orders, and electrical diagrams and blueprints for Japanese radar systems.
Zhao admitted to accepting nearly $15,000 in bribes from Chinese intelligence officials in exchange for sharing US military secrets. US Navy
“The intelligence services of the People’s Republic of China are actively targeting clearance holders throughout the military, seeking to lure them with money to provide sensitive government information,” said Assistant Attorney General for Homeland Security Matthew G. Olsen. “When contacted by his co-conspirators, instead of reporting it to the Navy, the Defendant chose greed over protecting the national security of the United States.”
“He is now held accountable for his crimes. To others who are tempted to put personal gain over patriotic duty, know that we are committed to identifying you and bringing you to justice,” added Olsen.
Zhao is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2024. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors announced Zhao’s arrest in August, at the same time a second Navy sailor, 22-year-old Jinchao Wei, was detained on separate charges of conspiracy to pass sensitive security information to Chinese officials.
Wei, who served aboard the San Diego-based USS Essex, was cleared of espionage charges after he allegedly provided China with detailed information about the ship and its crew.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
