The person at the center of this case
Houston-based advanced coiled tubing manufacturer
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
5 years waiting · since 2020
LEI GAO
Justice for Houston-based advanced coiled tubing manufacturer — the trail went cold in 2020, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Lei Gao fled to China in 2019 before charges were filed—what contacts or network does he have there?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific trade secrets were stolen and how were they transmitted to co-conspirators?
👤
person
Lead #3Who are the co-conspirators working with Gao in this scheme?
Lei Gao is wanted for allegedly stealing advanced coiled tubing trade secrets from a Houston-based manufacturer between 2019 and 2020, causing significant economic harm to the victim company. Gao and co-conspirators used the stolen secrets to develop and market a competing product in 2020. He fled the United States in 2019 and is believed to be hiding in China, making his apprehension and extradition critical to resolving this industrial espionage case.
Case
#777
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; Federal Bureau of Investigation
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4How was the competing product marketed and sold in 2020, and who were the buyers?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Commit Theft and Possession of Trade Secrets; Receiving and Buying Trade Secrets and Aiding and Abetting; Attempted Receiving and Buying Trade Secrets Caution: Lei Gao (also known as "Jason") is wanted for conspiracy and theft of trade secrets. Between 2019 and 2020, Gao and others allegedly utilized a scheme to obtain trade secrets from a Houston-based manufacturer of advanced coiled tubing, resulting in economic harm to the victim company.
It is also alleged that Gao and others utilized the stolen trade secrets to assist in the development of an advanced coiled tubing product which they introduced to the market for sale in 2020. Gao left the United States in 2019 and has not returned.
He is believed to be residing in China. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Lei Gao on October 29, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston, Texas, after he was charged with conspiracy to commit theft and possession of trade secrets, receiving and buying trade secrets and aiding and abetting, and attempted receiving and buying trade secrets.
Timeline of Events
📞
2019-01-01
Conspiracy Period Begins
Lei Gao and others begin scheme to obtain trade secrets from Houston-based coiled tubing manufacturer
📋
2020-01-01
Stolen Product Introduced to Market
Gao and co-conspirators introduce advanced coiled tubing product developed using stolen trade secrets
🕵️
2020-10-29
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
Lei Gao charged with conspiracy to commit theft and possession of trade secrets in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2019
Last Updated:September 11, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2019
Last Updated:September 11, 2026