Ex-U.S. Army Pilot Pleads Guilty To Selling Secrets to China

A 67-year-old defense contractor lied to get a security clearance and sold proprietary aviation technology information to China, according to DOJ officials.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, June 24, 2022 at 01:15 PM ET

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The U.S. Department of Justice charged Shapour Moinian with selling proprietary information about aviation technology to China and lying to get a security clearance. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

A former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and defense contractor, Shapour Moinian, pleaded guilty to selling proprietary aviation technology to the Chinese government.
Moinian admitted to making false statements on government security clearance questionnaires regarding his foreign contacts and job offers.
He was paid by Chinese officials for information about U.S.-designed aircraft, receiving funds through his stepdaughter's bank account and in smuggled cash.
The case underscores China's persistent efforts to acquire U.S. technology and intellectual property, often by targeting individuals with access to sensitive information.

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A former U.S. Army helicopter pilot working as a U.S. defense contractor faces up to 15 years in prison after he admitted to selling proprietary information about aviation technology to China and lying to get a security clearance, according to the Department of Justice.

Shapour Moinian, 67, of San Diego, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges related to acting as an agent for a foreign government, selling aviation-related information that belonged to the U.S.-based defense contractor he worked for, and making false statements.