A former engineer for a Southern California tech company has pleaded guilty to stealing highly sensitive U.S. government trade secrets related to missile detection systems, in a case raising fresh concerns about the theft of military technology and foreign influence in American research sectors.
Chenguang Gong, 59, a dual American and Chinese citizen residing in San Jose, entered a guilty plea on Monday to one count of theft of trade secrets. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Gong unlawfully transferred more than 3,600 files containing export-controlled and proprietary information from his employer — a Los Angeles-area research and development company specializing in aerospace defense technologies. He now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for September 29.
Among the files Gong stole were blueprints and technical documents related to infrared sensors used in space-based missile detection systems, as well as countermeasure technology designed to protect U.S. military aircraft from heat-seeking missiles. The information is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and is vital to national defense systems, according to court documents.
Authorities say the theft occurred over several weeks between March and April 2023. During this time, Gong transferred thousands of sensitive files from his work laptop to personal storage devices — even after he had accepted a new job with a competing firm. Investigators later recovered the files at his residence in Thousand Oaks, California.
The Department of Justice estimates the economic loss from Gong’s actions at over $3.5 million.
Beyond the theft itself, Gong’s connections to Chinese government-sponsored recruitment efforts have raised additional national security concerns. Between 2014 and 2022, he applied to several Chinese “Talent Programs,” initiatives designed to attract overseas experts in science and technology — often with the goal of advancing China’s military capabilities. His applications reportedly included project proposals for developing radar systems used in missile navigation and advanced night-vision technologies, both with clear military applications.
The case arrives amid heightened scrutiny of foreign influence in the United States. Similar incidents involving espionage and intellectual property theft — including by Chinese nationals or dual citizens — have drawn increasing attention from lawmakers and federal agencies in recent years. In one related case, the FBI alleged that Chinese operatives had spent years spying on U.S. Navy bases.
As part of his plea agreement, Gong admitted that he knew the stolen information was protected by federal export control laws and marked as proprietary. Officials emphasized the seriousness of the crime, noting that thefts of this nature threaten not only economic interests but also national security.
The case remains under investigation by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, in coordination with the DOJ’s National Security Division.
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This is not just theft of trade secrets here.
NO 10 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH PUNISHMENT! This piece of excrement has placed every living American’s existence at risk! Plus whoever hired and placed him in a position so that this was possible should be removed from any government position and thoroughly investigated along with all associates, family members, and friends.
Well, Clinton gave the Chinese missile technology.
All Chinese new to US since 2020 are spies vs earlier years?? maybe
Beware students esp