| WASHINGTON
- Tai Shen Kuo, age 58, of New Orleans, La., pleaded guilty today in
the
Eastern District of Virginia to a one-count
criminal information charging him with conspiracy to deliver national
defense information to a foreign government, namely, the People’s
Republic of China (PRC), in violation of 18 U.S.C., Section 794(a),
(c). Kuo was
arrested on Feb. 11, 2008 on a criminal complaint charging this same
offense.
Patrick Rowan,
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security; U.S. Attorney Chuck
Rosenberg of the Eastern District of Virginia; and
Arthur M. Cummings, II, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s
National Security Branch, made the announcement after the plea was
accepted by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Kuo faces up to
life in prison
when he is sentenced on Aug. 8, 2008.
“ Today’s guilty plea is the latest demonstration of the serious threat
posed by international espionage networks,” said Patrick Rowan, Acting
Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “The successful prosecution
of Tai Shen Kuo and his co-conspirator William Bergersen should serve as a warning
to others seeking to steal America’s military secrets for the benefit
of foreign powers.”
“
Espionage is a real and serious threat to our national security. Those who attempt
to obtain classified information, such as Mr. Kuo, for illicit purposes will
be caught, prosecuted, and severely punished,” said U.S. Attorney Chuck
Rosenberg.
“
By providing classified information to a foreign government, Tai Shen Kuo compromised
our national security for his own profit,” said FBI Executive Assistant
Director Arthur M. Cummings, National Security Branch. “The FBI is
committed to working with our partners in the law enforcement and intelligence
communities
to safeguard America's sensitive secrets from those who would do us harm.”
According to a Statement of Facts filed in Court with Kuo’s Plea Agreement,
the criminal conduct spanned the time period of March 2007 to February 2008.
During this time, Kuo, a naturalized U.S. citizen, obtained national defense
information from Gregg W. Bergersen – a Weapons Systems Policy Analyst
at the Arlington, Va.-based Defense Security Cooperation Agency, an agency within
the Department of Defense – on several occasions. The information pertained
primarily to U.S. military sales to Taiwan and U.S. military communications
security and was classified at the Secret level.
During the course of the conspiracy, Kuo cultivated a friendship with Bergersen,
bestowing on him gifts, cash payments, dinners, and trips to such places
as Las Vegas. Kuo also led Bergersen to believe that he would make Bergersen
a
part
owner or an employee of a company selling U.S. defense technology to Taiwan
after Bergersen’s retirement from government service.
Unbeknownst to Bergersen, Kuo passed along to an official of the government of
the PRC the documents and information Bergersen had provided him. The PRC official
directed Kuo to collect specific documents and information and paid him approximately
$50,000.00 for completing those tasks.
On March 31, 2008, Bergersen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deliver national
defense information to a person not entitled to receive it, in violation of 18
U.S.C. Section 793(d), (g). Bergersen is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11,
2008, and faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison.
Espionage charges are still pending against an alleged conspirator, Yu Xin Kang,
of New Orleans, La., who remains held without bond.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations
(OSI) provided substantial assistance and cooperation throughout the course of
the investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil Hammerstrom
and Aaron Zebley from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District
of Virginia, and Trial Attorney Ryan Fayhee from the Counterespionage Section
of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
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