The person at the center of this case
Dupont Pioneer, Monsanto, LG Seeds (intellectual property theft victims)
Cold Case · Open
12 years waiting · since 2013
Wang, Lei
Justice for Dupont Pioneer, Monsanto, LG Seeds (intellectual property theft victims) — the trail went cold in 2013, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Wang Lei speaks Mandarin and English, may wear glasses, and is considered an international flight risk with possible travel to China and Argentina
🔍
evidence
Lead #2Stolen inbred corn seed lines from DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto, and LG Seeds represent 5-8 years of research and $30-40 million in losses per line
👤
person
Lead #3Four co-conspirators identified: Li Shaoming, Lin Yong, Wang Hongwei, and Ye Jian - what is their current status and location?
Wang Lei 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 for a China-based seed company. A federal warrant was issued for his arrest on December 17, 2013, and he remains at large, believed to be an international flight risk with possible connections to China and Argentina.
Case
#617
United States (multi-state seed company operations)
United States District Court, Southern District of Iowa; 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 #4Why were these specific seed companies targeted and what was the connection to the China-based seed company beneficiary?
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, Lei, Li, Shaoming , Lin, Yong , Wang, Hongwei , 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, Lei 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, Lei should be considered an international flight risk.
He has possibly visited China and Argentina and speaks Mandarin and English. He may also wear glasses.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2011-04-01
Conspiracy Period Begins
Alleged conspiracy to steal trade secrets from U.S. seed manufacturers begins around April 2011
🕵️
2012-12-01
Conspiracy Period Ends
Alleged conspiracy period concludes around December 2012
👤
2013-12-17
Federal Warrant Issued
Federal warrant issued for Wang Lei'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:June 16, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 1, 2011
Last Updated:June 16, 2026