A U.S. Navy sailor hailing from Monterey Park has been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for transmitting sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer. The accused, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, had requested release while awaiting trial but was denied by U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue due to concerns of flight risk and potential danger to the community or witnesses. Zhao, who held a security clearance, was stationed at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme at the time of the alleged offenses.
According to federal prosecutors, Zhao allegedly sent U.S. military information, photographs, and videos to the Chinese intelligence officer from August 2021 to at least May of this year. As part of the scheme, he reportedly shared operational plans of a major U.S. military exercise in the Indo-Pacific Region, providing specific details about naval movements, amphibious landings, maritime operations, and logistics support. Zhao also allegedly obtained and transmitted electrical diagrams and blueprints of a radar system in Okinawa, Japan, as well as confidential details about Navy operational security at the Naval Base in Ventura County and San Clemente Island.
Prosecutors further allege that the Chinese intelligence officer instructed Zhao to keep their relationship secret and to destroy any evidence of their collaboration. In return for the information disclosed, Zhao purportedly received nearly $15,000 in bribes from the Chinese intelligence officer.
If convicted of the charges, which include conspiracy and receipt of a bribe by a public official, Zhao could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Another sailor based in San Diego was also arrested on similar charges, although it remains unclear if the two cases are connected.
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