(KRON) — A San Jose man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of stealing classified nuclear technology information for the benefit of China and a “hostile foreign enemy,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Chenguan Gong, 57, a San Jose engineer, is accused of stealing trade secrets developed by the U.S. government to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Gong was investigated by the U.S. Disruptive Technology Strike Force, which is tasked with “capturing those who seek to steal our nation's most powerful technologies and use them against us.” .
Mr. Gong, who lives in San Jose, was born in China and became a U.S. citizen in 2011. He was scheduled to appear in federal court in the Northern District of California on Wednesday.
During his brief tenure last year, Gong transferred more than 3,600 files from the research and development company he worked for to his personal storage device, according to the criminal complaint.
“The files that Gong allegedly transferred include a design for an advanced infrared sensor designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. “It contains diagrams and blueprints for sensors designed to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and missiles by U.S. military aircraft. Countermeasures should be taken, such as interfering with the missile's infrared tracking capabilities.” the prosecutor's office wrote.
The company has worked closely with the U.S. government and invested tens of millions of dollars annually in developing this technology. The top secret information obtained by Mr. Gong “would be dangerous to the national security of the United States if obtained by international parties,” prosecutors wrote.
Company names were redacted from court documents.
said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. Mr. Gong had previously sought to provide intelligence for military assistance to the People's Republic of China, but he stole classified information related to detecting nuclear missile launches and tracking ballistic and hypersonic missiles. We are aware that foreign powers, including China, are actively trying to steal our technology, but we will continue to remain vigilant against this threat by protecting the innovation of our companies and researchers. Masu. ”
“The Destructive Technology Strike Force is stepping up enforcement efforts to crack down on numerous smugglers of highly sensitive technologies used by foreign adversaries to further their military and other malign plans,” said Matthew Olsen, Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice. We have thwarted many criminal plans.”
According to prosecutors, the company hired Gong in January 2023 as a design manager for infrared sensors at one of its laboratories. He allegedly used his new position to secretly transfer thousands of files from his work laptop to his three personal storage devices.
Gong also allegedly transferred trade secret files related to the development of “next generation” sensors that can detect low observable targets while demonstrating improved survivability in space. According to the complaint, this information is one of the victim companies' most valuable trade secrets, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI found that from 2014 to 2022, while Gong worked for several major U.S. technology companies, he submitted applications to a talent program run by the government of the People's Republic of China. It was discovered by investigators. To lure applicants, “the Chinese government provides significant financial and social incentives to recruiters,” prosecutors wrote.
According to the affidavit, Gong traveled to China multiple times seeking funding for talent programs. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a 2019 email translated from Chinese that Gong “took a risk” by traveling to China to participate in a talent program because he worked for a U.S. military industry company. ” he said.
