A Man's Betrayal: How a Scientist Tried to Sell U. S. Secrets to China

A man from Steuben County, New York, has been found guilty of stealing important U. S. technology and trying to use it for his own gain in China. Ji Wang, 63, took secret information from his job at Corning Incorporated. This information was part of a project funded by the U. S. government to develop advanced laser technology for military use. Wang came to the U. S. from China in 1998 to work at Corning. Between 2002 and 2007, he worked on a project with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The goal was to create optical fibers for powerful lasers. These lasers could be used for things like shooting down drones and missiles. In 2016, Wang stole hundreds of files with secret data from the DARPA project. This data included trade secrets that could have been used to make specialty optical fibers. Around the same time, Wang applied for a special award from the Chinese government. This award was meant to bring back experts in science and technology to China. Wang was in talks with Chinese officials to start a business making specialty fibers. He even suggested that these fibers could be used for military purposes. If his plan had worked, he could have received millions of dollars in investment. However, U. S. law enforcement stopped him before he could start his business. Wang was convicted on several charges, including economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. Economic espionage can result in up to 15 years in prison, while theft of trade secrets can result in up to 10 years. His sentencing is scheduled for April 15, 2026. This case shows how important it is to protect sensitive information. It also highlights the risks of foreign governments trying to get their hands on advanced U. S. technology. The verdict was announced on November 5, 2025, by officials from the Department of Justice.