As of February 2015 he was under investigation by the Communist Party of China's anti-corruption agency.
Previously he served as the Communist Party Secretary of Zaozhuang.Chinese media reported that Chen Wei had close relations with Gu Liping, wife of Ling Jihua, former Vice Chairman of the National Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party Central Committee.