The Justice Department on Tuesday announced criminal charges against a number of foreign nationals in five cases and four arrests by five different prosecutors as part of a newly formed interagency anti-tech disruption task force.
The group is jointly led by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Commerce. Its purpose is to counter the efforts of hostile states that seek to illegally acquire vital American technology in order to advance the interests of the authoritarian regimes that dominate those countries and to promote human rights abuses.
A number of individuals have been charged in connection with five investigations into offenses including export offences, smuggling and theft of trade secrets.
Two of the cases relate to alleged supply networks set up to help Russian military and intelligence agencies obtain classified technology in violation of US law.
Two Russian citizens have been arrested for participating in a contracting scheme for deliveries to several Russian commercial airlines, circumventing export controls. A Greek national was arrested on May 9 for allegedly acquiring more than 10 different types of sensitive technology to donate to the Russian government.
In two other cases, former programmers are accused of stealing software code from US technology companies to resell to Chinese competitors.
The fifth case concerns a Chinese supply network set up to supply Iran with materials used in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles.
“These allegations demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to preventing classified technologies from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries, including Russia, China and Iran,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen. of the Department of Justice’s Homeland Security Division. “We will not tolerate those who violate American laws by allowing authoritarian regimes and other hostile countries to use advanced technologies to threaten American national security and undermine democratic values around the world.”
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