Defense employee, 2 others in spy arrests

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. agents arrested a Defense Department official and two others Monday on charges of spying for China.

The three are accused of passing "sensitive U.S. government information, including classified national information" mainly related to U.S. military sales to Taiwan.

Gregg William Bergersen, a weapons systems policy analyst at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in Arlington, Va., was charged with being the source of the classified information. Bergersen, 51, is a resident of Alexandria, Va.

Also charged were Tai Shen Kuo, 58, and Yu Xin Kang, 33, both of New Orleans.

The government charges the criminal conduct occurred from January 2006 to February 2008. Working under the supervision of someone only identified as "PRC Official A," Kuo cultivated friendships with Bergersen and others, the complaint said. Kang, a Chinese citizen but a lawful permanent resident of the United States, served as a conduit between PRC Official A and Kuo, the complaint alleged.

Kuo and Bergersen met at various locations in Northern Virginia, Charleston, S.C., and Las Vegas, officials allege.

Kuo and Kang each face up to life in prison if convicted; Bergersen faces up to 10 years.

Also Monday, the FBI arrested a former Boeing engineer in California on charges of supplying China with information on the space shuttle.