The investigation into Hailong’s activities was initiated when DuPont Pioneer security staff detected suspicious activity and alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.
In addition to his prison time and restitution, Hailong was ordered to give up two farms in Iowa and Illinois that were purchased and utilized by Hailong and others during the course of the conspiracy.
According to the plea agreement entered on Jan. 27, Hailong admitted to participating in a long-term conspiracy to steal trade secrets from DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto. He said he participated in the theft of inbred corn seeds from fields in the southern district of Iowa and elsewhere for the purpose of transporting the seeds to Dabeinong Technology Group in China. Dabeinong Technology Group is a Chinese company with a corn seed subsidiary company, Kings Nower Seed.
The investigation into Hailong’s activities was initiated when DuPont Pioneer security staff detected suspicious activity and alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.
“Mo Hailong stole valuable proprietary information in the form of seed corn from DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto in an effort to transport such trade secrets to China,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. “Theft of trade secrets is a serious federal crime, as it harms victim companies that have invested millions of dollars and years of work toward the development of propriety technology. The theft of agricultural trade secrets, and other intellectual property, poses a grave threat to our national economic security. The Justice Department and federal law enforcement partners are committed to prosecuting those who in engage in conduct such as Mo Hailong.”
