to act. reporter: 22-year-old jinchao wei a naturalized u.s. citizen was a sailor on the am bib shus ship the uss essex. wei sent national defense information to china including documents, photos, videos, and technical manuals in exchange, his intelligence officer paid wei thousands of dollars. reporter: wei has been charged under the espionage act which carries a life sentence. his attorney entering a not guilty plea on his behalf. also arrested in a separate case of espionage, 26-year-old wenheng zhao, the petty officer working at a naval base in ventura county, california, pleading not guilty in federal court. officials say zhao gave nonpublic intel to a chinese intelligence officer for almost two years, passing along operational plans for military exercises, photographs, and blueprints of a radar system on
The men are accused of giving sensitive military information to China including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and technical materials.
do sensititive milititary secre. > reporter:r: arresested separarately on e espionage cha, jinchao wei, a 22-year-old machinist aboard the uss essex. wei allegedly sold the chinese naval defense information and dozens of technical and mechanical military manuals, all while he was applying to become a u.s. citizen. the officer even congratulated him when he became a u.s. citizen. reporter: both sailors have first appearances today. reporter: id3 at the federal courthouse in los angeles, in full uniform, ws combat boots, he pleaded not guy but if convicted of bribery, facing up to 20 years. wei, if convicted of espionage, would get life. norah? norah: very serious charges, mark strassmann, thank you. a rare federal death sentence was handed out today to the white national gunman behind the deadliest attack on jewish people in u.s. history. robert bowers made anti-semitic rants online before killing 11