A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging two Chinese agricultural scientists with conspiracy to steal trade secrets.  This allegedly involved particular rice seeds of a biopharmaceutical company with a research facility in Junction City.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom’s office issued a release stating Weiqiang Zhang, 47, Manhattan, andWengui Yan, 63, Stuttgart, Arkansas, are charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to steal trade secrets and one count of theft of trade secrets.

The indictment alleged as part of the conspiracy, Zhang and Yan enabled visitors from a crops research institute in China to obtain possession of the unique rice seeds developed by Ventria Bioscience in Junction City.

It is alleged on August 7, personnel with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection found stolen seeds hidden in luggage belonging to Chinese scientists who were returning to China after a visit to the United States.

If convicted Zhang and Yan face a possible maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.