A former Boeing Co. engineer and Orange resident has been arrested on suspicion of spying for the Chinese.
Dongfan “Greg” Chung, 72, is accused of stealing secrets on several of the aerospace company’s programs, including the space shuttle, C-17 cargo plane and Delta IV rocket, according to the Justice Department.
Chung was indicted last week and arrested at his home Monday.
Federal accusations against Chung include espionage involving economic secrets and conspiracy. If convicted, he could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison.
A Boeing spokesman declined to comment.
Chung, a naturalized U.S. citizen, worked for the defense and space unit of Rockwell International from 1973 until Boeing bought it in 1996. He worked for Boeing in Downey and later in Huntington Beach.
He retired from Boeing in 2002 and worked as a consultant until 2006.
Prosecutors claim Chinese officials contacted Chung as early as 1979 to transfer information to them.
In a letter, Chung reportedly responded he wanted to “contribute to the motherland.”
In a separate case, three others were arrested for giving classified information to the Chinese. Two were from New Orleans and one was a Defense Department official.
