NewsPoliticsTech & ScienceTop StoryUS

US: Criminal Tech cases to Russia, China, Iran

The Justice Department announced a series of criminal cases Tuesday tracing the illegal flow of sensitive technology, including Apple’s software code for self-driving cars and materials used for missiles, to foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran. The Associated Press has the story:

US: Criminal Tech cases to Russia, China, Iran

Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)

The Justice Department announced a series of criminal cases Tuesday tracing the illegal flow of sensitive technology, including Apple’s software code for self-driving cars and materials used for missiles, to foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.

Some of the alleged theft highlighted by the department dates back several years, but U.S. officials are drawing attention to the collection of cases now to highlight the work of a task force created this year to disrupt the transfer of goods to foreign countries.

U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

“We are committed to doing all we can to prevent these advanced tools from falling into the hands of adversaries who wield them in a way that threatens not only our national security but democratic values everywhere,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who heads the Justice Department’s national security division.

One of the cases, unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles, accuses a former software engineer from Apple of taking proprietary data related to self-driving cars before his last day at the company in 2018 and then boarding a flight from San Francisco to China on the night that FBI agents were conducting a search at his house.

Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod of the U.S. Commerce Department, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Other cases disclosed Tuesday have resulted in arrests. One defendant, Liming Li, 64, was arrested earlier this month on charges that he stole thousands of sensitive files from his California employer, including technology that can be used in the development of nuclear submarines and military aircraft, and used them to help competing Chinese businesses.

Li has been in custody since his arrest. A lawyer who has been representing him declined to comment.

Additionally, two Russian nationals, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin, were arrested in Arizona this month on charges of conspiring to send aircraft parts to Russian airline companies.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Lawyers for both men did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

The Justice Department also unsealed a separate criminal case accusing a Chinese national of conspiring to transmit isostatic graphite, a material that can be used in the nose of intercontinental ballistics, to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.

The departments of Justice and Commerce earlier this year launched the Disruptive Technology Strike Force as a way to prevent U.S. adversaries from acquiring sensitive technology.

For more Tech & Science news

Previous Article
US V. Islands subpoena Musk in Epstein case
Next Article
VA man charged with assaulting Connolly’s staff

How useful was this article?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.

Latest News

Menu