Temple Professor Pleads Not Guilty to Sharing Tech Secrets

A Temple University professor who lives in the Penn Valley section of Lower Merion has denied providing technology secrets to the Chinese government, according to Philly.com.

Xioaxing Xi pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon to four counts of wire fraud. The federal government says he was part of an alleged scheme involving the exploitation of technology for the benefit of third parties in China.

According to Philly.com, Temple demoted Xi from his position as chairman of the school’s physics department, and he has taken a leave of absence.

Xi, a naturalized U.S. citizen and a native of the People’s Republic of China, is a renowned expert in the field of magnesium diboride thin film superconducting technology. The fraud, it is alleged, was an effort to assist Chinese entities in becoming world leaders of the superconductivity field.

In 2002 to 2003, the indictment says, Xi took a sabbatical from his position at Penn State University and worked with a U.S. company in the field of thin film superconductivity research.

During his tenure at the company, individuals there invented a piece of technology which revolutionized the field of superconducting magnesium diboride thin film growth.

The Department of Justice says Xi repeatedly reproduced, sold, transferred, distributed, and otherwise shared the device with, and exploited it for the benefit of, government entities and other third parties in China. It is further alleged that, in exchange for his efforts, Xi repeatedly sought lucrative and prestigious appointments in China.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 80 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, and a $400 special assessment.