engineer sentenced to 24 years in conspiracy case

Yikes. Last week, Chi Mak, a Chinese-born former electrical engineer, was sentenced to 24 years and five months in federal prison for conspiring to export U.S. military technology to China: Engineer sentenced to 24 years in China conspiracy case.

That's right, baby. Spies! Sort of. According to prosecutors, Mak acted illegally as an agent of the People's Republic of China when he attempted to compromise sensitive technology used in the operation of U.S. warships. He was convicted last year of conspiracy to violate export control laws, attempting violate export control laws, acting as an unregistered agent of China and lying to the FBI.

The sentencing capped an 18-month investigation of Mak's family. They were not, however, charged with espionage because the information they attempted to export to China was not classified. "I believe you betrayed the United States," said U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney. Bummer.