Chenguang Gong, a 59-year-old engineer from San Jose, California, pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing U.S. trade secrets, including sensitive technology used in missile detection systems, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Gong admitted in federal court to one count of theft of trade secrets and now faces up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 29.
Authorities say Gong transferred more than 3,600 files from a research and development firm in the Los Angeles area—where he worked briefly in 2023—to his personal storage devices. The company has not been publicly identified.
Among the stolen materials were blueprints for infrared sensors used in space-based systems capable of detecting nuclear missile launches, as well as technology used to track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Gong also downloaded designs for sensors intended to help U.S. military aircraft detect and defend against heat-seeking missiles.
Gong, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2011, had previously worked at several major American technology companies between 2014 and 2022. During that time, he applied to join Chinese government-funded “Talent Programs” that aim to recruit individuals with expertise in advanced science and technology to benefit China’s military and economic interests, the Justice Department said.
The case is the latest in a series of prosecutions aimed at curbing the theft of critical U.S. technology linked to national defense and security.
