Chinese scientist freed after felony case collapses

Yet another report with more details for this case.  Main stream media in USA of course would never cover this kind of Chinese-turned-to-be-innocent stories on their frontpages.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/05/chinese-scientist-freed-after-felony-case-collapses

By Bill Sizemore
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 3, 2013

NEWPORT NEWS
A felony case against a Chinese scientist - which a Virginia congressman had characterized as potential espionage - collapsed Thursday in federal court.

In a plea agreement with Bo Jiang, a former contract worker at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, prosecutors dropped a felony charge of lying to federal investigators. Jiang pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of misusing government office equipment and was sentenced to time served - about seven weeks. He was released from the Chesapeake Correctional Center hours later.
The agreement requires Jiang to leave the country within 48 hours.

Jiang had been in custody since March 16, when he was stopped while preparing to board a China-bound flight at Dulles International Airport outside Washington. He was charged with providing false statements to the investigators who searched his baggage because he failed to fully disclose all of the electronic gear he was carrying with him.

The investigation was prompted by U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Fairfax County, who publicly identified Jiang as a potential security threat after whistleblowers at NASA-Langley told him Jiang had been permitted to take a NASA-owned laptop computer with him on a visit to China last fall.

Taking the NASA computer without prior written approval was a violation of NASA security regulations, according to a statement of facts put into evidence Thursday - a breach that resulted in the termination of Jiang's employment with the National Institute of Aerospace, a Hampton-based NASA contractor, in January.

However, "the United States has no evidence that Jiang was ever put on notice of that specific prohibition," according to the statement.

Moreover, analysis of the NASA laptop established that it contained no classified information, and nor did any of the electronic equipment Jiang was carrying with him in March.

In his plea agreement, Jiang acknowledged violating a NASA regulation governing use of government office equipment by downloading copyrighted movies, television shows and sexually explicit images on the NASA-owned laptop.

Jiang's attorney, Fernando Groene, who has called the prosecution a "witch hunt," said Jiang is "relieved that he has been cleared with regard to any spy activity."

Essentially, Groene said, Jiang was "investigated for being a Chinese scientist" because of unfounded accusations by "misguided whistleblowers and a meddling congressman."

Wolf said he makes no apologies for instigating the investigation. He said he remains concerned that Jiang was allowed to take a government computer to China in clear violation of NASA security regulations.

"We want to make sure that we're not losing national security information," he said.
Jiang, 31, received a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from Old Dominion University in 2010.

Groene said Jiang was unsuccessful in finding new employment after he lost his NASA job, and his work visa expired in February. He said the misdemeanor conviction might make it difficult for him to return to the United States.

"He's a scientist committed to his work, and he would like to work wherever he can," Groene said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa McKeel, who prosecuted the case, declined to comment on the outcome.
Bill Sizemore, 757-446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com