Former GE Power Engineer Convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Economic Espionage
Jury Finds Xiaoqing Zheng Conspired with Individuals in China to Steal GE’s Trade Secrets Knowing or Intending to Benefit the Government of China
Yesterday, a federal jury convicted a New York man of conspiracy to commit economic espionage following a four-week jury trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Xiaoqing Zheng, 59, of Niskayuna, was employed at GE Power & Water in Schenectady, New York, as an engineer specializing in sealing technology. He worked at GE from 2008 until the summer of 2018. The trial evidence demonstrated that Zheng and others in China conspired to steal GE’s trade secrets surrounding GE’s steam and gas turbine technologies, knowing or intending to benefit the People’s Republic of China and one or more foreign instrumentalities, including China-based companies that research, develop, and manufacture parts for turbines.
“Zheng conspired to steal trade secrets from his employer, GE, and transfer this information to his business partner in China, so they could enrich both themselves and companies receiving support from the PRC government,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This is the kind of exploitation of our economy and open society that the Department will continue to counter relentlessly.”
“Dr. Zheng used his status as a trusted engineer with GE to conspire to commit economic espionage on behalf of the People’s Republic of China,” said U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman for the Northern District of New York. This conviction should send a strong message that the FBI will continue to vigorously investigate economic espionage cases and pursue prosecution in partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure the protection of American technology and American jobs.”
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-ge-power-engineer-convicted-conspiracy-commit-economic-espionage