Chinese national sentenced for stealing trade secrets worth $1 billion

[Elderberry]

American Military News This press release was originally published by the U.S. Department of Justice. 2/29/2020

A former associate scientist was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison in federal court today for stealing proprietary information worth more than $1 billion from his employer, a U.S. petroleum company.

In November 2019, Hongjin Tan pleaded guilty to theft of a trade secret, unauthorized transmission of a trade secret, and unauthorized possession of a trade secret. From June 2017 until December 2018, Tan was employed as an associate scientist at the petroleum company and was assigned to work in a group with the goal of developing next generation battery technologies for stationary energy storage, specifically flow batteries. In his plea agreement, Tan admitted to intentionally copying and downloading the technologies’ research and development materials without authorization from his employer.

“This investigation and prosecution uncovered another instance of China’s persistent attempts to steal American intellectual property,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The department of justice will continue to confront this type of illicit behavior to safeguard American industry and protect American jobs.”

“American ingenuity inspires advances in science and technology and drives world markets. Nowhere is that more true than in Oklahoma’s energy industry. Unscrupulous individuals like Hongjin Tan seek to steal American trade secrets to take home to China so they can replicate our technology,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores for the Northern District of Oklahoma. “United States Attorneys from coast stand ready to combat China’s economic aggression that criminally threatens American industry.”

“American companies invest heavily in advanced research and cutting-edge technology. Trade secret theft is detrimental to our national security and free-market economy.  It takes profits away from companies and jobs away from hard working Americans,” said Melissa Godbold, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The sentencing of Hongjin Tan underscores the FBI’s commitment to protecting our country’s industries from adversaries who attempt to steal valuable proprietary information.”

More: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/02/chinese-national-sentenced-for-stealing-trade-secrets-worth-1-billion/

[catfish1957]

Probably the unlucky one out of a 1000 bastard that has been caught.

[DB]

2 years is zip for this. It should be 20 years. When he gets out he'll be a hero of China and paid well only costing him 2 years in exchange...

[skeeter]

2 years is zip for this. It should be 20 years. When he gets out he'll be a hero of China and paid well only costing him 2 years in exchange...

No kidding. Julius and Ethel should appeal their sentence.

One day we'll get serious about discouraging this kind of behavior. Right now the Chinese think we're patsies with our two year sentences.