Federal grand jury indicts scientists from China accused of stealing seeds from US company
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two scientists from China have been indicted on federal charges accusing them of stealing seeds developed by a U.S. bioscience company and giving the seeds to members of a visiting delegation from China.
A federal grand jury in Kansas indicted Weiqiang Zhang, an agricultural seed breeder at Ventria Bioscience's facility in Junction City, and Wengui Yan, a U.S. Department of Agriculture research geneticist in Arkansas, on one count each of conspiracy to steal trade secrets and theft of trade secrets.
Zhang and Yan were initially charged in a federal complaint last week with conspiracy to steal trade secrets. They're both in custody. Their lawyers didn't immediately return calls seeking comment Friday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. Customs and Border Protection confiscated the seeds from the delegation before they flew home to China in August.