New York Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal GE Trade Secrets to Benefit China
Xiaoqing Zheng of Niskayuna, New York, was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to steal trade secrets from General Electric with the intent to benefit China, DOJ announced. Zhen also was ordered to pay a $7,500 fine and serve one year of supervised release following his imprisonment.
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Zheng worked at GE Power from 2008 to 2018 as an engineer specializing in turbine sealing technology. According to court documents, Zheng and others in China conspired to steal company trade secrets related to GE’s ground-based and aviation-based turbine technologies to benefit China and "one or more foreign instrumentalities, including China-based companies and universities that research, develop, and manufacture parts for turbines," DOJ said.
"This is a case of textbook economic espionage. Zheng exploited his position of trust, betrayed his employer and conspired with the government of China to steal innovative American technology," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said. "The Justice Department will hold accountable those who threaten our national security by conniving to steal valuable trade secrets on behalf of a foreign power.”