Chenguang Gong pleads guilty to stealing U.S. missile blueprints
- Chenguang Gong, a California resident and dual citizen of the U.S. and China, confessed to stealing sensitive military files during his employment with a defense contractor.
- He copied over 3,600 files, including blueprints for advanced missile detection systems, to personal devices before his termination.
- Gong's case underscores serious concerns about national security and the risks associated with industrial espionage.
In 2023, Chenguang Gong, a 59-year-old dual citizen of the United States and China, pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to stealing sensitive military technology while working for a defense contractor in California. He transferred over 3,600 confidential files, which included blueprints for advanced missile detection systems, to personal storage devices during his brief employment. Gong admitted to copying these files between late March and April 26, 2023, while working as a manager responsible for designing integrated circuits for infrared sensors. The files Gong accessed and copied were classified as trade secrets and held significant value, estimated at over $3.5 million. Federal investigation revealed that he continued transferring files even after accepting a position with a competitor company. His employment with the contractor became subject to scrutiny as Gong had previously applied to multiple Chinese government programs aimed at recruiting experts in technology. Evidence indicated that he sought funding for projects that could enhance China's military capabilities, notably developing high-performance systems for missile navigation. Gong's actions raised alarms due to their implications for national security, as many of the confidential files related to advanced sensor technologies crucial for detecting nuclear missile launches and hypersonic weapons. His recruitment attempts linked to China's Talent Programs portrayed a concerning intersection of high-tech expertise and geopolitical tensions. Despite accepting a plea deal, Gong's guilty plea came with the potential for a lengthy prison sentence, reflecting the severity of the charges against him, which encompass theft of trade secrets that threaten U.S. defense initiatives. As U.S. authorities are still searching for some hard drives containing the stolen data, Gong's case emphasizes the ongoing risks associated with industrial espionage and theft of sensitive military technology. His ties to Chinese recruitment programs are under investigation, probing how interconnected global technology industries might impact national security. Sentencing for Gong is set for September 29, 2023, where he could face up to 10 years in federal prison.