The Justice Department introduced a court docket in Ohio has sentenced a convicted Chinese spy to twenty years in jail. He tried to steal commerce secrets and techniques from an American firm.

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The Justice Department introduced a court docket in Ohio has sentenced a convicted Chinese spy to twenty years in jail. He tried to steal commerce secrets and techniques from an American firm.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The first Chinese intelligence officer to be extradited to the U.S. has been sentenced to twenty years in jail for trying to steal high-tech aviation commerce secrets and techniques from an American firm.

Yanjun Xu was convicted by a federal jury in Cincinnati final November of conspiracy to commit financial espionage, conspiracy to commit commerce secret theft, tried financial espionage and tried commerce secret theft.

U.S. officers say the case is an instance of China’s relentless intelligence operations towards American corporations to steal top-flight know-how.

“As proven at trial, the defendant, a Chinese government intelligence officer, used a range of techniques to attempt to steal technology and proprietary information from companies based in both the U.S. and abroad,” Attorney General Merrick Garland mentioned in a statement.

“Today’s sentence demonstrates the seriousness of those crimes and the Justice Department’s determination to investigate and prosecute efforts by the Chinese government, or any foreign power, to threaten our economic and national security.”

The Justice Department says Xu is a 42-year-old Chinese nationwide and an officer in China’s Ministry of State Security.

According to proof introduced at his trial, Xu tried to steal composite plane engine fan know-how from Cincinnati-based GE Aviation.

Prosecutors say Xu lured a GE Aviation worker to China to current a report back to a college. Xu later requested particular technical info from the worker, who was cooperating with the corporate and the FBI.

Xu proposed assembly in Europe to obtain extra proprietary info from the worker. They agreed to satisfy in Belgium, the place Xu was arrested by authorities and extradited to the U.S.

“This case is just the latest example of the Chinese government’s continued attacks on American economic security – and, by extension, our national security,” mentioned FBI Director Christopher Wray. “As long as the Chinese government continues to break our laws and threaten American industry and institutions, the FBI will work with its partners across the globe to bring those responsible to justice.”