Former Engineer Pleads Guilty to Stealing U.S. Trade Secrets

A former engineer based in Southern California has admitted to taking sensitive U.S. government trade secrets linked to missile detection systems.

Chenguang Gong, 59, a dual U.S. citizen from San Jose, pleaded guilty to a single charge of trade secret theft. He could potentially face up to a decade in prison, with sentencing scheduled for September 29th, as indicated by the Department of Justice. Gong had worked at a research and development firm in the Los Angeles area, where he transferred more than 3,600 files containing highly classified information.

This sensitive data included blueprints for infrared sensors utilized in space-based missile detection and countermeasures aimed at defeating heat-seeking missiles—both crucial for the U.S. military’s aircraft. The trade secrets, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, were protected by ownership and export controls.

Between March and April of 2023, Gong moved a significant amount of data from his work laptop to a personal storage device. Notably, over 1,800 files were transferred after he accepted a position with one of his employer’s competitors. Authorities later found these files at his home in Thousand Oaks.

Adding further worries to his case, Gong had also applied for a Chinese government-sponsored talent program from 2014 to 2022, aimed at attracting experts for military and technological developments. His plans included advancements in missile navigation, night vision sensor technologies, and radar systems that could enhance China’s military capabilities.

The economic impact of Gong’s actions is estimated to surpass $3.5 million. If convicted, he faces a maximum of ten years in prison, which is the most stringent penalty permissible under the law.