The person at the center of this case
DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto, and LG Seeds (corporate victims)
Cold Case · Open
12 years waiting · since 2013
Wang, Hongwei
Justice for DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto, and LG Seeds (corporate victims) — the trail went cold in 2013, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Wang Hongwei may hold dual citizenship with China and Canada—which jurisdiction has jurisdiction and where might he seek refuge?
👤
person
Lead #2Four co-conspirators named Li Shaoming, Lin Yong, Wang Lei, and Ye Jian—have any been apprehended or located?
📍
location
Lead #3Wang has possibly visited China and Argentina—do immigration records confirm travel to these countries after December 2012?
Wang Hongwei 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 corn inbred seed lines worth an estimated $30-40 million and multiple years of research to transport to China for a Chinese seed company. Wang, who may hold dual citizenship with China and Canada, is considered an international flight risk and may have fled to China or Argentina.
Case
#616
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.
🔍
evidence
Lead #4What specific inbred corn seed lines were stolen and how were they physically transported across international borders?
📞
contact
Lead #5Wang speaks Mandarin and English—has he established contact with known associates in China or other countries since the warrant was issued?
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, Wang, Hongwei, Li, Shaoming , Lin, Yong , 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 Wang, Hongwei 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: Wang, Hongwei may have dual citizenship with China and Canada.
He should also be considered an international flight risk. He has possibly visited China and Argentina, and he 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 ends approximately December 2012
👤
2013-12-17
Federal Warrant Issued
Federal warrant issued for Wang Hongwei'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:October 30, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 1, 2011
Last Updated:October 30, 2026