Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General.
According to the plea agreement and other court filings, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is responsible for civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals. These goals include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers, and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further its mission.
Li was a United States citizen who immigrated from the PRC. He worked at various times for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.
Li admitted that from at least as early as 2012, he served as a cooperative contact working under MSS direction to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained various types of information at MSS request, including details about Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations. He reported this information back to MSS using anonymous online accounts and traveled to China for meetings with MSS officers.
For example, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Less than a week later, Li sent biographical details about an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices his employer had opened in China. Three weeks later, Li responded with this information.
In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li uploaded materials to an online account shared with this officer and asked them to delete after reading.
In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information concerning hacking events targeting U.S companies including a widely publicized hack by Chinese government operatives. Within four days, Li provided this data.
In March 2022, an MSS officer sought details regarding Li's new employer and cybersecurity training materials; these were sent on the same day by Li.
In June 2022: An inquiry was made regarding someone who fled from China; within hours after receiving suspected residential address info from said official - full ownership report followed up promptly too!
If convicted: Potential sentence could max out five years prison time - Judge will decide final outcome considering Sentencing Guidelines/statutory factors involved
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G Olsen/National Security Division/Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells/FBI National Security Branch/U S Attorney Roger B Handberg/Middle District Florida announced news
The FBI investigates case:
Assistant US Attorneys Daniel J Marcet/Karyna Valdes/Middle District Florida/Trial Attorney Scott Claffee/National Security Division Counterintelligence Export Control Section prosecuting case
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