Ding is also accused of traveling to China and participating in meetings for an AI startup with potential investors who were told he was the chief technology officer and owned 20% of company stock. A document from the startup quoted in the indictment stated the company intended to “replicate and upgrade” Google’s computing platform.
When questioned by Google investigators on Dec. 8, 2023, Ding told them he had uploaded the files to his personal accounts to use as examples of the work he had done for the company, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said Ding assured the company that he was not planning on leaving.
Less than a week later, however, Ding booked a one-way ticket from San Francisco to Beijing and then resigned from his position on Dec. 26, 2023, according to court documents. The FBI served search warrants at Ding’s home on Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 and discovered an account with over 500 files of confidential Google information.
In a statement provided to The Standard, Google spokesperson José Castañeda said the company tipped off law enforcement about Ding after discovering the alleged theft.
“We have strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets,” Google spokesperson José Castañeda said in a statement provided to The Standard. “We are grateful to the FBI for helping protect our information and will continue cooperating with them closely.”
Ding faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines per charge if convicted.