Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
Engineer arrested for allegedly stealing trade secret technology designed to detect nuclear missile launches and track missiles.
Summary:
A former engineer named Chenguang Gong was arrested for stealing trade secret technologies related to detecting nuclear missile launches and tracking missiles. Gong, who became a U.S. citizen in 2011, allegedly transferred over 3,600 files from his workplace to personal storage devices, including blueprints for infrared sensors used in space-based systems and military aircraft. The stolen technology was deemed valuable and potentially damaging to U.S. national security if obtained by foreign actors. Gong had a history of applying to Chinese talent programs and had previously sought to provide sensitive information to aid the People’s Republic of China’s military. The FBI conducted a search at Gong’s residence, recovering several digital devices containing confidential documents belonging to his previous employers. Gong faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison if proven guilty of theft of trade secrets.
