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
Lin, Yong
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 Lin Yong currently located? Has he fled to China or Argentina as suspected?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific corn seed inbred lines were stolen and how were they transported to China?
👤
person
Lead #3What are the current whereabouts and status of the four co-conspirators: Wang Hongwei, Wang Lei, Ye Jian, and Li Shaoming?
Lin Yong is wanted 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 corn seed intellectual property worth an estimated $30-40 million per line and transported it to China to benefit their seed company. A federal warrant was issued on December 17, 2013, and Lin Yong is considered a flight risk who may be in China or Argentina.
Case
#615
United States (multi-state operations)
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 #4Lin Yong may wear glasses and speaks Mandarin and English—has he used aliases or assumed new identities?
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, Lin, Yong, Wang, Hongwei , Wang, Lei , Ye, Jian , and Li, Shaoming 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 Lin, Yong 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: Lin, Yong should be considered an international flight risk.
He has possibly visited China and Argentina. Lin, Yong may wear glasses.
He also speaks Mandarin and English.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2011-04-01
Conspiracy period begins
Alleged conspiracy to steal corn seed intellectual property begins approximately April 2011
🕵️
2012-12-31
Conspiracy period ends
Alleged conspiracy to steal trade secrets concludes approximately December 2012
🕵️
2013-12-17
Federal warrant issued
Federal warrant issued for Lin Yong'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:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 1, 2011
Last Updated:April 29, 2026