US citizen pleads guilty to industrial espionage

SAN FRANCISCO, (AFP)

A US citizen pleaded guilty Friday to stealing US defense industry secrets with the purpose of selling them to foreign countries.

Allen Cotten, 53, admitted in court that beginning in February 2004, while employed at Genesis Microwave, an El Dorado Hills, California, high-tech company, he stole sensitive microwave technologies in order to sell them to foreign military contractors.

The technologies are used to enhance weapon guidance capabilities, radar jamming, electronic countermeasures, and the ability to locate and pin-point enemy signals during warfare.

A statement released by the US district attorney's office does not reveal the identity of Cotten's prospective clients. But an official told AFP they include Australia, India, Israel and Taiwan.

"Strict controls must be maintained over technology used in military applications. Allen Cotten's actions violated the trust placed in him by both his employer and the American people," said US attorney McGregor Scott.

The total amount of actual or intended sales to foreign companies was approximately 250,000 dollars.