Navy sailor pleads not guilty to selling secrets to China [Video]

SAN DIEGO — A United States Navy sailor accused of selling military secrets to China pleaded not guilty in federal court on Wednesday.

Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was a machinist’s mate on the USS Essex from Naval Base San Diego.

Prosecutors accuse him of conspiracy to send national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China and the new charge of lying in his naturalization process.

Wei was back in court on Wednesday to face a superseding indictment. This replaces or amends the original indictment because of the new charges against Wei. 

In addition to trying to sell navy intelligence, prosecutors said Wei lied during his citizenship naturalization process. The indictment says he started corresponding with the Chinese official before he was naturalized but lied under oath in the naturalization process.

As a machinist’s mate, …