ROCHESTER, NY – A federal jury has convicted Ji Wang, 63, of Painted Post, New York, on multiple charges of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets related to sensitive U.S. defense research.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, Wang was found guilty 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.
Prosecutors said Wang, a former Corning Incorporated employee, stole hundreds of confidential files from a joint research project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Corning between 2002 and 2007. The $11.4 million project focused on developing optical fibers for high-powered laser systems with military applications, including the potential to shoot down drones and missiles.
Evidence showed that Wang, who immigrated to the United States from China in 1998, applied for China’s Thousand Talents Plan Award just days before stealing the files in 2016. He was later selected for the award and negotiated with Chinese government entities for millions in investment to launch a fiber optics company in China using the stolen technology.
Law enforcement disrupted his plans before he could establish the business.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg and U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said the conviction underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting U.S. defense innovations from foreign exploitation.
Wang faces up to 15 years in prison for economic espionage and up to 10 years for theft of trade secrets. Sentencing is scheduled for April 15, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci Jr.
