- Chenguang Gong, 59, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for stealing classified U.S. military technology – including infrared sensors for missile detection and fighter jet countermeasures – and attempting to transfer it to China.
- Gong admitted to transferring over 3,600 classified files from HRL Laboratories to personal storage devices within three months, causing an estimated $3.5 million in losses. Many files were marked as proprietary or export-controlled.
- Gong had a history of attempting to funnel U.S. defense secrets to Beijing, including applying multiple times to China's "Thousand Talents" program – a controversial initiative accused of recruiting foreign experts to boost Beijing's military-industrial complex.
- Prosecutors revealed Gong's deliberate efforts to aid China's military modernization, including pitching U.S.-developed radar and missile guidance tech to Chinese entities while working for American defense contractors like Texas Instruments and BAE Systems.
- The case highlights China’s aggressive theft of U.S. military secrets to bypass decades of research, accelerating its goal of surpassing American dominance. Experts warn stronger countermeasures are needed against Beijing’s relentless espionage campaigns.
A Chinese-American engineer has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for stealing advanced U.S. military technology designed to detect nuclear missile launches, track hypersonic weapons and evade enemy fire – secrets he allegedly intended to transfer to China.
Fifty-nine-year-old Chenguang Gong of San Jose, California admitted to transferring over 3,600 classified files from his employer, HRL Laboratories, to personal storage devices during his brief three-month tenure in early 2023. Gong's theft included blueprints for infrared sensors used in space-based missile detection systems and fighter jet countermeasures – technologies critical to national security. Many files were marked as "proprietary," "export controlled" or "for official use only" – with prosecutors estimating losses exceeding $3.5 million.
His arrest followed an internal investigation by HRL after suspicious file transfers were detected. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later seized storage devices containing stolen data from Gong's temporary residence in Thousand Oaks.
The case highlights growing concerns over China's aggressive efforts to acquire sensitive U.S. military technology through espionage and talent recruitment programs. Prosecutors revealed Gong had a long history of attempting to funnel U.S. defense secrets to Beijing. Between 2014 and 2022, he submitted multiple applications to China's "Thousand Talents" program – a controversial initiative accused of recruiting foreign experts to bolster Beijing's military-industrial complex.
In one 2014 proposal, Gong pitched replicating high-performance analog-to-digital converters developed by his then-employer, Texas Instruments, for potential military radar and missile guidance applications. Later, while working for defense contractor BAE Systems, he sought Chinese funding for night-vision sensor technology, explicitly noting its military utility.
In a 2019 email, Gong acknowledged the risks of his actions, admitting he worked for "an American military industry company" while secretly collaborating with Chinese entities. Prosecutors argued his actions were "deliberate and systemic," part of a broader pattern of espionage benefiting China's military modernization.
Thousand Talents Program a trojan horse for IP theft
The case underscores escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over intellectual property theft and industrial espionage. The Thousand Talents program, launched in 2008, has drawn scrutiny from Western intelligence agencies for its role in transferring sensitive technology. Gong's sentencing – 46 months in prison, plus $77,408 in restitution and a $100,000 fine – reflects the severity of his crimes, though critics argue penalties remain too lenient given the national security stakes.
FBI officials emphasized the importance of corporate vigilance in detecting insider threats, particularly in defense and aerospace sectors. Gong's rapid theft, completed in under a month, demonstrates how even short-term employees can exploit access to critical systems.
As U.S.-China technological competition intensifies, cases like Gong's serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle to safeguard military innovation from foreign adversaries. With hypersonic weapons and space-based defense systems becoming pivotal in modern warfare, the theft of such secrets poses a direct threat to global security. The Department of Justice's prosecution signals a continued crackdown on economic espionage, but experts warn that Beijing's relentless pursuit of Western technology demands even stronger countermeasures.
BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that China steals U.S. military technology to rapidly advance its own military capabilities without investing decades in research, accelerating its goal of surpassing American dominance. Additionally, this theft supports China's broader strategy of destabilizing the U.S. by undermining elections, weakening national security and advancing its globalist agenda of control.
The case concludes a years-long investigation involving multiple agencies – including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. Yet, with China's talent recruitment networks still active, the challenge of preventing future thefts remains daunting. For now, Gong's sentencing stands as both a warning and a call to action in the shadowy world of high-stakes technological espionage.
Watch this video explaining what China's Thousand Talents Plan is about.
This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.