MILWAUKEE (AP) — A researcher at the Medical College of Wisconsin is charged with espionage after prosecutors say he stole details of a cancer-fighting compound that he wanted to share with China.
Prosecutors say Huajun Zhao stole the compound, C-25, and data that led to its development.
A federal criminal complaint says investigators found several hundred items related to research into C-25 on Zhao’s computer. Authorities found a grant application from Zhao, written in Mandarin, claiming he discovered the compound and seeking Chinese funding to continue research.
The 42-year-old Zhao is facing one count of economic espionage. A conviction carries a maximum 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Zhao’s attorney, Juval Scott, tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Zhao is a “talented professional accused of a serious crime.”