Chinese scientist pleads guilty to US economic espionage

A Chinese scientist pled guilty to theft of trade secrets and economic espionage involving two major US agribusiness companies, Reuters reported. China-born Kexue Huang, 46, a permanent resident of the US, pled guilty to one count of economic espionage against Dow and one count of stealing trade secrets from Cargill, causing estimated total losses between US$7 million and US$20 million. He faces a combined 25 years in prison and deportation. Huang transferred stolen trade secrets related to pesticide technology to individuals in Germany and China in an effort to develop products to compete against US-based Dow. Huang also admitted to misappropriating information from Dow in order to develop a new food product for Cargill. Huang’s case is the eighth case prosecuted under the US Economic Espionage Act of 1996.