20 years for Chinese national in US aviation spying case

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal judge, on Thursday, handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a Chinese national who was convicted of trying to steal trade secrets from multiple US aviation and aerospace companies, including the theft of proprietary airplane engine fan technology.

Judge Timothy Black in Cincinnati rejected arguments by Xu’s attorneys that a long sentence was too harsh and the just under five years that Xu has served since his arrest was sufficient punishment.

Prosecutors had asked for a 25-year sentence.

“This case sends a clear message: we will hold accountable anyone attempting to steal American trade secrets,” Kenneth Parker, US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said in a statement.