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an ancient Chicago graduate student it was condemned Wednesday to eight years in prison for spying for the Chinese regime collecting information on scientists and engineers in the United States with knowledge of aerospace and satellite technology.
A Chicago federal jury found guilty in September Ji Chaoqun31, for conspiracy to act as Chinese Ministry of State Security agent without notifying the Attorney General of the United States, to act as spy in america and of lying on a government form about his contacts with foreign agencies.
The charges alleged that Ji was objective of agents of the Ministry of State Securityor MSS, shortly before coming to the United States in 2013 to study engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
According to prosecutors, after returning to China for the winter break, Ji was “revered” by his MSS superiors. In the end they gave her a top-secret contract in which she swore loyalty to the agency’s causecommitting to “Dedicate the rest of my life to the security of the State”according to prosecutors.
Ultimately, Ji assembled background reports on eight US citizens, all of whom were born in Taiwan or China, with careers in scientific and technological industries, including several specializing in the aerospace field, according to prosecutors. Seven worked for US defense contractors.
He sent the reports back to his controllers in a zipped attachment that was falsely labeled “midterm exam” question sets, the assistant U.S. attorney said. barry jonas at Ji’s trial.
In 2016, a year after graduating from university, Ji enlisted in the United States Army Reserve through a program to recruit foreigners who have skills considered vital to the national interest.
The jury found Ji guilty of giving false answers on a background form from the government asking if he had ever had contact with foreign intelligence agencies.
(With information from AP)
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