FBI Uncovers China Seed-Theft Conspiracy
28 January 2016 Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Company’s (DBN) Director of International Business Mo Hailong pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to steal trade secrets, according to the U.S. Justice Department. According to the plea agreement, Mo Hailong admitted to participating in a long-term conspiracy to steal seed technology from DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto.
DBN is a Chinese conglomerate with a U.S. corn seed subsidiary company, Kings Nower Seed. Mo Hailong is a Chinese national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States pursuant to an H-1B visa.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation opened the investigation in 2011, when Mo was discovered by DuPont Pioneer security staff digging around test plots in Southern Iowa. Stolen seed technology was confiscated from two accomplices when they tried to return to China in September 2012.
Mo faced 10 years in prison, but his plea deal will limit his sentence to no more than five years. Under the deal, he will reveal the farms in the Midwest that were used in the operation.
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