The person at the center of this case
Intellectual property of U.S. seed manufacturing companies (DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto, LG Seeds)
Cold Case · Open
12 years waiting · since 2013
Li, Shaoming
Justice for Intellectual property of U.S. seed manufacturing companies (DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto, LG Seeds) — the trail went cold in 2013, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where is Li Shaoming currently located? Has he fled to China or Argentina as suspected?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific inbred corn seed lines were successfully stolen, and how much technology was transferred to China?
👤
person
Lead #3Who are the four co-conspirators (Lin Yong, Wang Hongwei, Wang Lei, Ye Jian) and have any been apprehended?
Li Shaoming is accused of conspiring with four others from April 2011 to December 2012 to steal valuable intellectual property—specifically inbred corn seed lines—from major U.S. seed companies including DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto, and LG Seeds, with the intent to transport the stolen technology to China. The conspiracy allegedly caused estimated losses of $30-40 million per seed line and represented 5-8 years of research. A federal warrant was issued for Li's arrest on December 17, 2013, but he remains at large and is considered a significant flight risk with possible ties to China and Argentina.
Case
#619
United States District Court, Southern District of Iowa; FBI Counterintelligence
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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 China-based seed company was the intended recipient of the stolen intellectual property?
📞
contact
Lead #5Li Shaoming is fluent in Mandarin and English—what communications or financial records exist documenting the conspiracy?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets Caution: From approximately April 2011 to approximately December 2012, Li, Shaoming, Lin, Yong , Wang, Hongwei , Wang, Lei , and Ye, Jian allegedly conspired to steal the intellectual property of several United States-based seed manufacturing companies and transport the intellectual property to the People's Republic of China for the benefit of their China-based seed company. The 5 individuals are alleged to have conspired to steal "inbred" corn seed from Dupont Pioneer, Monsanto, and LG Seeds.
This “inbred” or “parent” line of seed constitutes valuable intellectual property of a seed producer. The estimated loss on an “inbred” line of seed is approximately 5 to 8 years of research and a minimum of 30 to 40 million dollars.
After Li, Shaoming was charged with conspiracy to steal trade secrets, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest in the United States District Court, Southern District of Iowa, on December 17, 2013. Remarks: Li, Shaoming should be considered an international flight risk.
He has possibly visited China and Argentina. Li, Shaoming speaks Mandarin and English.
Timeline of Events
📋
2011-04-01
Conspiracy Period Begins
Alleged conspiracy to steal trade secrets begins approximately April 2011
📋
2012-12-31
Conspiracy Period Ends
Alleged conspiracy period concludes approximately December 2012
🕵️
2013-12-17
Federal Warrant Issued
Federal warrant issued for Li Shaoming's arrest in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa for conspiracy to steal trade secrets
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 1, 2011
Last Updated:September 12, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 1, 2011
Last Updated:September 12, 2026