After allegedly stealing trade secrets valued at $32 million and attempting to sell them to Chinese competitors, Xiang Dong Yu was arraigned today in a US District Court.
Xiang Dong Yu, who goes by Mike Yu, age 47, was arrested last month when he returned to America from Beijing China for the first time since leaving Ford Motor Company and allegedly stealing trade secrets in 2007.
Yu was indicted in October on theft of trade secrets, attempted theft of trade secrets and unauthorized access to a protected computer. Yu has been in federal custody since landing in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on an inbound flight from his native China last month.
Now reports show that Judge Magistrate Mark A. Brandon has tentatively ordered Yu’s release on bond to Pastor Peter Wu, head of the Chinese Gospel Church in Livonia. The church has reportedly rented an apartment for Yu in Westland.
Assistant United State Attorney Cathleen Corken has told Judge Brandon that Yu is a potential flight risk due to his lack of ties in the US. Yu has no family or income in the US and has no reason to remain in the country should he be released.
Corken said, “His whole life is in China.” Corken went on to explain that even though Yu’s passport has been seized, Yu could still obtain new travel documents from his Chinese consulate.
Brandon has delayed issuing his official order to release Yu on $100,000 bond in order to give federal prosecutors time to appeal the decision.
Yu’s attorney argued that the US government has unfairly labeled Yu as a flight risk. Yu’s attorney, George Donnini, has stated that Yu would adhere to the travel restrictions and even wear an electronic locating device if released on bail.
