Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Stealing Trade Secrets from the U.S. Agricultural Companies

A Chinese national has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal trade secrets after investigators say he stole valuable intellectual property from DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto.

On January 27, 2016, 46-year-old Mo Hailong, also known as Robert Mo, admitted to participating in a long term conspiracy to steal trade secrets from the U.S. agricultural companies.

Court records say Hailong participated in the theft of inbred corn seeds from fields in the Southern District of Iowa for the purpose of transporting the seeds to China. The stolen inbred, or parent, seeds were the valuable intellectual property of DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto.

During the course of the conspiracy, Hailong was employed as the Director of International Business of the Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Company, commonly referred to as DBN. DBN is a Chinese conglomerate with a corn seed subsidiary company, Kings Nower Seed. Hailong is a Chinese national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States pursuant to an H-1B visa.

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