US Navy Sailor Gets 27-Month Prison Sentence for Selling Military Secrets to China

‘Mr. Zhao betrayed his solemn oath to defend his country and endangered those who serve in the U.S. military.’

An F-35B Lightning II launches from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Essex for the F-35B's first combat strike in an undisclosed location on Sept. 27, 2018. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Freeman

A former U.S. Navy sailor was sentenced to 27 months in prison for providing the Chinese communist regime with sensitive U.S. military information in exchange for bribes, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner on Jan. 8 handed down the sentence to Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, who also goes by Thomas Zhao. Mr. Zhao was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine.