This last Monday U.S. Dist. Judge Cormac J. Carney of the Central District of California sentenced former Chinese-American engineer Chi Mak (CIC background info: tinyurl.com/3228yv), to over 24 years in prison (DOJ press release: tinyurl.com/37fvnx) for conspiracy to commit espionage, attempting to violate export control laws, failure to register as an agent of a foreign government, and making false statements to federal agents. (indictment here: tinyurl.com/36hvly)

Chi Mak stole computer disks from his employer a defense contractor Power Paragon. Mak copied classified material and tried to convey that information to the Chinese government . He was arrested at LA international airport in October 2005.

Chi Mak lost at trial in March 2007 and was convicted in May 2007 of conspiring to smuggle sensitive naval intelligence data to China ( BBC report here: tinyurl.com/ys5ms8). There is an appeal planned.

Chi Mak’s wife: Rebecca Laiwah Chiu, is currently serving a 3 yeart term after pleading guilty to espionage (more here: tinyurl.com/38r29u).

Mak's relatives: brother Tai Mak, Tai Mak's wife Fuk Li and their son Billy Mak,also pled to related charges (more here: tinyurl.com/33uswz & tinyurl.com/33uswz). They will spend 10 years in prison.