An Orange County man will spend the next 15 years in prison for spying for China over a 30-year period.

Dongfan "Greg" Chung, a Chinese-born citizen who worked for Beoing Co., was convicted on six counts on economic espionage and other federal charges for storing 300,000 pages of sensitive material in his home. In his position as a stress analyst, Chung had high-level security clearance, which made it possible for him to access the documents.

According to the prosecution, the papers Chung brought home included information about a U.S. space shuttle, a booster rocker, and military troop transports.

The judge who sentenced Chung wasn't exactly sure what information Chung had been passing to China, but said Chung definitely compromised national security and hurt Boeing, a key military contractor.

Chung denies spying for China, and maintains he brought the papers home to write a book. In his own words he said, "I am not a spy, I am only an ordinary man. I love this country...I beg your pardon and let me live with my family peacefully."

The judge sentenced Chung after seeing evidence that proved he was passing information to Chinese officials.

Although prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence, the judge sentenced Chung to 15 years due to his age and frail health.

Espionage is one of the most serious offenses a person can commit. The federal government takes this offense extremely seriously, and federal prosecutors will not hesitate to seek the toughest penalties possible. When faced with espionage or other federal charges, it's imperative to obtain the services of an attorney with extensive defense experience. If you are searching for an experienced, dedicated, driven Orange County criminal defense attorney, the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry can help. To learn more, contact the office today by calling (866) 902-6880.