Spies Arrested for Giving Space Shuttle Trade Secrets to China
It has just been announced that four spies have been arrested in the United States because of giving secret information about the space shuttle and other aerospace programs to China. One individual, Dongfan “Greg” Chung of California, is a naturalized citizen and has worked in the aerospace industry for approximately 30 years.
Chung’s career has been spent mainly working at aerospace departments at Rockwell International and Boeing, but now is facing eight counts of economic espionage, conspiracy, and making false statements to FBI investigators. He had retired in 2002, but continued working at Boeing until 2006 as a contractor. Charges against him are: taking Boeing trade secrets relating to the space shuttle; taking trade secrets relating to the C-17 military transport aircraft; and also taking trade secrets relating to the Delta IV rocket. All these have been sent to China over the years, along with 24 secret manuals that related to the B-1 bomber–all benefiting to China.
According to the United States prosecutors, Chung had been receiving instructions from Chinese officials since back as 1979. He is said to have reported a strong desire to contribute to his “Motherland”, according to the U.S. Attorney, Tom O’Brien. If he is convicted, it looks as if he will face 100 years in prison, and it is believed that it can be proved that he has links to Chinese-born engineer Chi Mak, found guilty last year who is also serving 100 years.
Chi Mak was found guilty of “conspiring to export sensitive defense technology from the United States to China last year. But other individuals are also being charged with passing information to China. Tai Shen Kuo and Yu Xin Kang have been charged with “conspiracy to disclose national defense information to a foreign government. ” Meanwhile, 51-year old Gregg William Bergersen, a weapons systems policy analyst within the defense department agency has been charged with conspiracy to “disclose national defense information to persons not entitled to receive it”, which will bring a ten year prison sentence.
“Today’s case demonstrates that the justice department is equally committed to foiling those efforts through the arrest and prosecution of those who conduct economic espionage at the expense of our economic and national security,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Kenneth Wainstein.
This entry was posted on Monday, February 11th, 2008 at 10:21 am and is filed under Public Relations, Space Agency News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
