Junjie Zhang, Making a False Statement, California 2019

⏱ 2 min read

Junjie Zhang, a 57-year-old senior material and process engineer at a Wichita aviation company, attempted to board a flight to China with proprietary information belonging to his employer in September 2019. Zhang, also known as Jeff Zhang, lied to U.S. customs officials at a Dallas airport, claiming the thumb drive and laptop he carried only contained personal information. However, the devices actually contained confidential documents marked ‘Proprietary’ and ‘Confidential’ along with graphs and blueprints associated with the aviation company’s work.

Zhang’s employer had reported him to the FBI in 2018 after an incident during a work trip to China where he displayed suspicious behavior. When CBP agents examined Zhang’s devices, they discovered the confidential documents, and Zhang changed his story, claiming his employer had given him permission to have the documents.

The FBI contacted Zhang’s employer, who informed them that Zhang was not authorized to have confidential documents on his personal devices or to leave the country with that information. Zhang pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement and faces charges for his actions.

The case highlights the threat of insider threats and intellectual property theft, which can cause U.S. companies to lose billions of dollars a year. Zhang’s actions demonstrate the importance of protecting sensitive information and the need for companies to be vigilant about potential security risks.

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