In a case highlighting the ongoing battle against espionage, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in a bribery and information leak scheme. Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, was caught transmitting sensitive U.S. military data to Chinese intelligence in return for cash payments, the Justice Department announced.
26-year-old Zhao of Monterey Park, California, entered a guilty plea last October on charges of conspiracy and receiving bribes. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen criticized Zhao's actions, stating, "Mr. Zhao betrayed his solemn oath to defend his country and endangered those who serve in the U.S. military," according to a Justice Department report. A $5,500 fine was also levied against him, in addition to his prison term.
The U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, expressed his office's commitment to national security. "Zhao betrayed his country and disgraced himself when he accepted bribes from an intelligence officer with the People’s Republic of China," he disclosed. With Zhao's dismissal from the military now punctuated by his federal prison sentence, authorities have issued a clear warning to others who might consider compromising U.S. security.
“Make no mistake, the PRC is engaged in an aggressive effort to undermine the national security of the U.S. and its partners.” Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch elaborated on the broader context. Zhao's treasonous conduct, facilitated by encrypted communication methods and the destruction of evidence, spanned from August 2021 to at least May 2023. According to the report, Zhao snapped up over $14,866 from foreign officers during that time.
Zhao's role at the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, where he held a U.S. security clearance, put him in a prime position to access restricted areas and sensitive information. Infractions included transmitting plans for strategic military exercises and electrical diagrams for U.S. defense systems, exemplifying the grave nature of the security breach. The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division and NCIS, with the IRS-Criminal Investigation providing considerable support.
The pivotal effort in bringing Zhao to justice was heralded by Acting Special Agent in Charge Angel Cruz of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Office of Special Projects. “NCIS will continue to leverage its unique law enforcement and counterintelligence authorities to vigorously pursue those who attempt to compromise our national security information,” Cruz vowed.
