The person at the center of this case
Houston-based advanced coiled tubing manufacturer
Cold Case · Open
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 #1Where in China is Lei Gao currently residing and what is he doing with the stolen trade secrets?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific trade secrets were stolen and how were they transmitted to Gao and his co-conspirators?
👤
person
Lead #3Who are the alleged co-conspirators working with Lei Gao in this theft scheme?
Lei Gao is wanted for conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets from a Houston-based advanced coiled tubing manufacturer between 2019 and 2020. Gao and alleged co-conspirators stole proprietary manufacturing information and used it to develop a competing product that was introduced to market in 2020. Gao fled the United States in 2019 and is believed to be hiding in China, making his location and current activities the primary investigative unknowns.
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 #4What market did the competing coiled tubing product enter and who are its customers?
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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
Alleged theft scheme begins
Lei Gao and others allegedly began utilizing a scheme to obtain trade secrets from the Houston-based manufacturer
📋
2020-01-01
Stolen trade secrets utilized
Gao and co-conspirators allegedly introduced an advanced coiled tubing product to market using stolen trade secrets
👤
2019-12-31
Gao departs United States
Lei Gao left the United States in 2019 and has not returned
🕵️
2020-10-29
Federal arrest warrant issued
A federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2019
Last Updated:May 10, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2019
Last Updated:May 10, 2026