Security News > 2020 > August > Chinese Researcher Arrested for Destroying Evidence of Data Transfer to China
A Chinese national was arrested in the United States for destroying evidence of possible transfer of sensitive data to China.
The man, Guan Lei, 29, was a researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, and was staying in the U.S. on a J-1 non-immigrant visa.
The complaint also reveals that Guan was being investigated for the possible transfer of "Sensitive U.S. software or technical data to China's National University of Defense Technology."
The complaint reveals that the researcher admitted taking part in military training, wearing military uniforms at NUDT, and having a faculty advisor in China who "Was also a lieutenant general in the PLA who developed computers used by the PLA General Staff Department, the PLA General Armament Department, Air Force, military weather forecasts, and nuclear technology."
According to the complaint, not only did Guan destroy the hard drive, but also hid digital storage devices from investigators and lied about having contact with the Chinese consulate during his stay in the U.S. Guan was ordered detained.