Yu Long Admits Stealing Military Tech from United Technologies

Yu Long, 38, a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, admitted in New Haven federal court today to stealing classified military program documents from United Technologies, a major U.S. defense contractor. Long waived indictment and pleaded guilty to charges of economic espionage and illegal export of defense technology, marking a significant breach of national security protocols.

Court documents reveal Long systematically copied sensitive technical data related to advanced military systems—technology strictly controlled under the U.S. Munitions List—and transferred much of it to China. His actions, done while employed at the company, were not only a violation of his employment agreement but a deliberate effort to advance China’s defense capabilities at the expense of U.S. strategic interests.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary B. McCord stated, “Long admitted to stealing and exploiting highly sensitive military technology and documents, knowing his theft would benefit China’s defense industry and deliberately contravene the embargo on U.S. Munitions List technology the United States has imposed on China.” She emphasized that export control laws are a cornerstone of national security and that prosecuting such thefts remains a top priority.

U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly added that Long’s motive was personal career advancement. “This defendant stole an extraordinary amount of proprietary military program information… His actions, which he knew would benefit China, not only violated his employment agreement and damaged the company, but have threatened our country’s national security interests,” Daly said. She warned that U.S. defense contractors remain prime targets for intellectual property theft, whether by cyber intrusion or insider threats.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick called the case a stark reminder of the evolving threats to American industrial security. “This case highlights the complexity in which the FBI and law enforcement are being challenged to keep the integrity of our industry intellectual property intact,” she said. Multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), collaborated on the investigation.

Special Agent in Charge Matthew Etre of HSI Boston stressed that these technologies give the U.S. and its allies a critical military edge. “They were developed to give the United States and its allies a distinct military advantage, which is why HSI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively target the individuals who steal the ideas of others.” Long now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for a later date.