Chenguang Gong, a 59-year-old engineer, pleaded guilty to stealing extensive trade secrets from his employers, including military technology. He downloaded over 3,600 documents from two electronics manufacturers to personal storage drives. This information included vital data on sensors for aircraft and cameras used for early rocket launch warnings. Gong transferred more than 1,800 files to a personal flash drive after accepting a job at a competing technology company. The FBI's investigation demonstrated that he had been stealing trade secrets since relocating from China to the USA in 1993.
‘Between approximately March 30, 2023, and April 25, 2023, on 16 different days, Gong transferred more than 3,600 files from his work laptop to three personal storage devices, including a Verbatim flash drive and two Western Digital external hard drives,’ testified FBI special agent Igor Neyman back in February.
‘Gong transferred more than 1,800 files to the Verbatim flash drive after he had accepted a new job on or about April 5, 2023, at a technology company that directly competes with the Victim Company in the infrared sensor field. Gong then transferred some of these files from the three personal storage devices to his personal computer and to other personal storage devices.’
The FBI's interviews and examination of his digital footprint showed he stole information from his employers as soon as he moved to the USA from China. Gong admitted to the theft of trade secrets.
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