Chinese engineer to plead guilty in Wisconsin case

Plea deal reached

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Federal prosecutors said they have reached a plea deal with a Chinese engineer charged with stealing trade secrets from a GE Healthcare subsidiary in Waukesha.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that 41-year-old Jun Xie will plead guilty to one count of stealing trade secrets. He faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and deportation.

No date has been set for him to formally enter his plea.

The medical equipment company said it lost between $100 million and $200 million to the alleged crime. The plea deal includes a restitution payment of $130,000.

Xie told investigators he copied confidential information from the General Electric Co. unit because he knew he would move back to China and join a Chinese company.
Daniel Stiller, a public defender representing Xie, said the plea agreement speaks for itself.