A former U.S. Navy sailor was sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison on Monday for selling instructional and procedural information and documentation to Chinese intelligence officials.

Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick, served on the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship, at Naval Base San Diego. The base is of great strategic importance to the United States as it is the homeport of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Wei was arrested in August 2023 while reporting for duty, according to the Department of Justice.