http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=china
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February 11, 2008
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/February/08_nsd_106.html
Former Boeing Engineer Charged with Economic Espionage in Theft of Space Shuttle Secrets for China
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A former Boeing engineer was arrested this morning after being indicted last week on charges of economic espionage and acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), for whom the engineer stole Boeing trade secrets related to several aerospace programs, including the Space Shuttle.
Dongfan “Greg” Chung, 72, of Orange, Calif., who was employed by Rockwell International from 1973 until its defense and space unit was acquired by Boeing in 1996, was arrested without incident at his residence by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and investigators with NASA. Chung, who is expected to make his initial court appearance here this afternoon, was named in an indictment returned last Wednesday by a federal grand jury.
The indictment accuses Chung of eight counts of economic espionage, one count of conspiracy to commit economic espionage, one count of acting as an unregistered foreign agent without prior notification to the Attorney General, one count of obstruction of justice, and three counts of making false statements to FBI investigators.
Chung, a native of China who is a naturalized United States citizen, held a Secret security clearance when he worked at Rockwell and Boeing on the Space Shuttle program. He retired from the company in 2002, but the next year he returned to Boeing as a contractor, a position he held until September 2006. The indictment alleges that he took and concealed Boeing trade secrets relating to the Space Shuttle, the C-17 military transport aircraft and the Delta IV rocket. Chung allegedly obtained the materials for the benefit of the PRC.
“Certain foreign governments are committed to obtaining the American trade secrets that can advance the development of their military capabilities. Today’s case demonstrates that the Justice Department is equally committed to foiling those efforts through the arrest and prosecution of those who conduct economic espionage at the expense of our economic and national security,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Kenneth L. Wainstein.
United States Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien stated: “Mr. Chung is accused of stealing restricted technology that had been developed over many years by engineers who were sworn to protect their work product because it represented trade secrets. Disclosure of this information to outside entities like the PRC would compromise our national security.”
The case against Chung is related to an investigation into another engineer who worked in the United States and obtained sensitive military information for the PRC. The man, Chi Mak, and several of his family members were convicted last year of providing defense articles to the PRC (see: www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pressroom/pr2007/074.html). Mak is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24.
According to the indictment that was unsealed this morning, individuals in the Chinese aviation industry began sending Chung “tasking” letters as early as 1979. Over the years, the letters directed Chung to collect specific technological information, including data related to the Space Shuttle and various military and civilian aircraft. Chung allegedly responded in one letter indicating a desire to contribute to the “motherland.”
In various letters to his handlers in the PRC, Chung referenced engineering manuals he had collected and sent to the PRC, including 24 manuals relating to the B-1 Bomber that Rockwell had prohibited from disclosure outside of the company. According to the indictment, between 1985 and 2003, Chung made multiple trips to the PRC to deliver lectures on technology involving the Space Shuttle and other programs, and during those trips he met with officials and agents of the PRC government. The indictment alleges that Chung and PRC officials exchanged letters that discussed cover stories for Chung’s travel to China and recommended methods for passing information, including suggestions that Chung use Chi Mak to transmit information.
The indictment describes a May 2, 1987 letter from Gu Weihao, an official in the Ministry of Aviation and China Aviation Industry Corporation, which discussed the possibility of inviting Chung’s wife, who is an artist, to visit an art institute so that Chung could use the cover of traveling with his wife as an excuse to travel to the PRC. This same letter suggested that passing information to the PRC through Chi Mak would be “faster and safer” and concluded with the statement: “It is your honor and China’s fortune that you are able to realize your wish of dedicating yourself to the service of your country.” The indictment describes a second letter from Gu Weihao, dated April 12, 1988, which asked Chung to provide information on “advanced technologies.” This letter stated that Rebecca Mak was in the PRC and she had reported that Chung and the Maks had a good relationship.
“The FBI is committed to protecting America’s assets from foreign thievery,” said Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The arrest and indictment of Mr. Chung should serve as a reminder to those who would compromise the economic and physical security of the United States by stealing proprietary information. The FBI will continue to work with NASA, the defense community and other federal agencies to safeguard our nation’s technology.”
Each charge of economic espionage carries a maximum possible penalty of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The charges of acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General and obstruction of justice each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The charges of conspiracy to commit economic espionage and making a false statement to federal investigators each carry a maximum possible penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
The investigation in this case was conducted jointly by the FBI and NASA Counterintelligence. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Staples and Ivy Wang, from the Central District of California.
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08-106
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48929
Coalition Troops in Iraq Capture 20 Insurgents
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2008 – Coalition forces captured 20 suspected terrorists during a series of operations conducted across Iraq today, military officials said.
— North of Mahmudiya, coalition forces captured an alleged leader involved in the al Qaeda in Iraq network in Baghdad’s southern belt. That network is stunned after recent successes achieved against its leadership, to include the detention of a key facilitator and the network’s deputy leader, officials said. Three more al Qaeda leaders were killed during a recent air strike. Six more suspected terrorists were captured during the operation, which also yielded protective gear, weapons and three military-style assault vests.
— Coalition forces and Iraqi police in Hillah captured a suspected Iranian-trained “special groups” commander and detained another suspect. The targeted individual is linked to special groups elements in Wasit, Babil and Najaf provinces. He also is tied to terrorist weapons shipments and planning attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.
— In Mosul, coalition forces captured an alleged al Qaeda cell leader believed to be involved in attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces and to be associated with numerous terrorist leaders in the region. The ground force also detained four other suspected terrorists.
— In eastern Mosul, coalition forces detained an additional six suspects while targeting a foreign-terrorist facilitator also responsible for coordinating attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces
In yesterday’s operations:
— North of Mosul, coalition forces targeted an associate of a senior foreign-terrorist facilitator with connections to al Qaeda senior leaders. The targeted individual is linked to foreign terrorists and a group of suicide bombers. Coalition forces engaged two men, killing one and wounding the other. The wounded individual was detained, along with two other suspects.
— A “Sons of Iraq” citizens security group came under small-arms attack at its compound in Sinjar. Several insurgents and five group members were killed in the firefight, as well as two local women and three children. The incident is under investigation.
— Iraqi and coalition forces found more than 400 pounds of homemade explosives in a large cache while searching houses in eastern Mosul. The cache held a large amount of explosives including pressure-plate bombs, dynamite, blasting caps, an unknown liquid, ball bearings and other materials used to make roadside bombs. “Once again, the insurgents have decided to store large amounts of explosive materials in residential areas, showing a complete disregard to the safety of Iraqi citizens,” said Maj. Gary Dangerfield, a U.S. Army spokesman. The cache was destroyed in place.
— U.S. soldiers detained a suspect at the Rashid hospital in eastern Baghdad. The suspect allegedly is linked to al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist activities, including recent suicide bombings.
— A terrorist vehicle bomb detonated in an outdoor marketplace east of Balad, killing 23 civilians and injuring 39 other people. All of the injured have been evacuated to Balad hospital for further treatment.
— Terrorists attacked a group of Iraqi civilians in Ninevah province, which resulted in the deaths of two men and one child, as well as the injury of two men, two women and two infants. The incident is under investigation.
Also yesterday southeast of Samarra near the Hamrin Mountains, coalition forces targeted an al Qaeda in Iraq explosives facilitator involved in the suicide-bombing network in the Diyala River Valley. Coalition forces followed the suspect’s vehicle and fired multiple warning shots in an attempt to get him to stop, but he did not comply. An individual in the car was seen reaching for a weapon, and perceiving hostile intent, coalition forces engaged. Upon impact, secondary explosions erupted from the vehicle, indicating explosives were inside. The other passenger managed to get out of the vehicle before the explosion and was armed with a machine gun. Coalition forces engaged the perceived threat, killing him.
Once the area was secure, the ground force confirmed the driver was killed during the engagement, and troops recovered several weapons, false documents and al Qaeda in Iraq-related materials.
The ground force also found three Iraqi civilians who had bedded down on the side of the road underneath a blanket near the area of the engagement. Two of them had been hit with stray fire during the operation, killing one and wounding another. The wounded individual was treated on site and transported to a military medical facility for further care. “Coalition forces take every precaution to ensure the safety of innocent civilians and regret the loss of life or injury during operations,” said Army 1st Lt. Michael Street, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.
In Feb. 9 operations:
— U.S. soldiers captured a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq leader during an operation in Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib sector.
— Iraqi security forces and U.S. special operations troops detained three suspected terrorists during separate raids in Balad and Anah. Two suspected al Qaeda in Iraq members were detained during the Balad operation. Another suspected terrorist was arrested during the operation in Anah, near Rawah.
— U.S. soldiers arrested a suspected suicide-bomb facilitator during a raid in Baghdad’s Rashid sector. Two women also were detained.
In other news, U.S. soldiers seized an armor-piercing explosively formed penetrator cache during a Feb. 8 operation in Jurf Nadaf, a town southeast of Baghdad, after being tipped off by Iraqi citizens. The cache contained 13 EFPs, one shaped charge, 37 blocks of C4 explosive, 13 blasting caps, a 62 mm mortar tube, and a 40 mm rocket-propelled-grenade launcher.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)