Former Aurora engineer convicted of stealing secrets for Chinese company

An engineer for a medical technology company formerly operating in Aurora has been convicted of federal charges alleging he conspired to steal trade secrets for a Chinese competitor.

After a weeklong trial, a federal jury in Chicago found Chih-Yeh Jen, 71, guilty Friday of conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets, and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets, prosecutors announced.

Jen, of Mequon, Wisconsin, is set to be sentenced Jan. 5, 2027.

Co-defendants Fince Tendian, 57, of Aurora, and Vladimir Nevtonenko, 77, of Arlington Heights, pleaded guilty to possessing stolen trade secrets before trial, prosecutors said. Nevtonenko’s sentencing is set for Dec. 1, and Tendian is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 8.

According to federal prosecutors, Jen worked as an engineer at Philips Medical Systems in Aurora, where employees researched, developed and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines.

Before Philips closed the facility in 2017, prosecutors alleged, China-based Kunshan GuoLi Electronic Technology Co. and one of its executives contacted Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for the company to help it compete with Philips.

While still employed at Philips, Jen shared confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the subsidiary, prosecutors said.

Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary, according to federal authorities.

“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said in a statement Monday.

ckeeshan@dailyherald.com