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.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where is Li Shaoming currently located? Has he been confirmed in China or Argentina?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific corn seed lines were stolen and how were they transported to China?
👤
person
Lead #3What roles did the four co-conspirators (Lin Yong, Wang Hongwei, Wang Lei, Ye Jian) play in the conspiracy?
Li Shaoming is wanted by the FBI for conspiracy to steal trade secrets from major U.S. seed companies including DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto, and LG Seeds between 2011 and 2012. He and four co-conspirators allegedly stole valuable "inbred" corn seed lines worth an estimated $30-40 million each and transported them to China to benefit a China-based seed company. Li Shaoming remains at large and is considered a flight risk who may be in China or Argentina.
Case
#619
United States (multi-state operations)
FBI Counterintelligence Division; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa
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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.
📞
contact
Lead #4Who were the contacts at the China-based seed company that benefited from the stolen intellectual property?
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 to steal trade secrets ends 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
Case Information
Incident:April 1, 2011
Last Updated:May 9, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 1, 2011
Last Updated:May 9, 2026