Wang Nabbed: Fiber Laser Theft Jeopardized National Security

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Ji Wang, 63, of Painted Post, NY, is facing the consequences after a federal jury found him guilty on multiple counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. The verdict, delivered after a tense trial, confirms what federal investigators have been alleging for years: Wang systematically pilfered sensitive defense research for personal gain, potentially handing a strategic advantage to a foreign power. He was convicted of two counts of economic espionage, one count of theft of trade secrets, one count of attempted economic espionage, and one count of attempted theft of trade secrets.

The case centers around Wang’s work at Corning Incorporated between 2002 and 2007. He was assigned to a $11.4 million, five-year research project jointly funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Corning. The ambitious goal: to drastically increase the power of fiber lasers – technology DARPA hoped to weaponize for defense against drones and missiles. According to prosecutors, Wang saw an opportunity, not to advance American innovation, but to line his own pockets. The stolen data detailed manufacturing technology enabling the creation of specialty optical fibers, including those crucial for high-powered lasers.

Federal investigators revealed that Wang began laying the groundwork for his betrayal years before the actual theft. As early as 2014, he was actively negotiating with Chinese government entities to establish a specialty fiber business in China. These negotiations weren’t for a legitimate startup; they involved promises of tens of millions of dollars in investment, with the Chinese government poised to become major shareholders. The stolen trade secrets were, according to evidence presented at trial, the foundation of this planned venture. Wang’s business plans explicitly highlighted the military applications of the technology he intended to exploit.

The timing is damning. Just ten days before absconding with hundreds of files containing the DARPA project’s non-public data on or about July 1, 2016, Wang applied for China’s Thousand Talents Plan Award – a program designed to lure overseas Chinese scientists and engineers back to the mainland with lucrative incentives. Two months after the theft, he was selected as a recipient, solidifying the picture of a calculated scheme to transfer cutting-edge American technology to China. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg minced no words: “This verdict reaffirms that such betrayals of trust will not go unpunished.”

“This conviction demonstrates the importance of protecting trade secrets developed in the United States, especially those with military applications,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. The FBI, through Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the threat posed by intellectual property theft, particularly when it benefits a foreign rival. The Bureau of Industry and Security, represented by Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Carson, underscored its commitment to preventing the unlawful transfer of sensitive technologies. The investigation highlights the increasing sophistication of economic espionage and the lengths foreign governments will go to acquire advanced technology.

While sentencing is pending, the guilty verdict sends a clear message: stealing American innovation with the intent to benefit a foreign power carries severe consequences. The Department of Justice, along with its federal partners, is vowing to continue pursuing and prosecuting those who jeopardize national security for personal gain. This case serves as a stark reminder that the battle for technological supremacy is being fought not only in research labs but also in courtrooms.