Chinese accused hires top US criminal lawyer
Source: Agencies |
March 16, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A CHINESE computer programmer charged with stealing software code from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has hired a lawyer best-known for his successful defense of a member of one of America's leading crime families.
Jeffrey Lichtman, said he was retained last week by Zhang Bo, a 33-year-old former New York Fed contractor, who is in plea negotiations with the government.
"I felt that Zhang was being unfairly portrayed in the media," Lichtman said.
The New York lawyer has handled cases that have been splashed across the city's tabloids and has defended celebrity clients, including John "Junior" Gotti, the son of former New York mob leader John Gotti. The younger Gotti's trial in 2005 ended in a hung jury.
Zhang is accused of illegally copying the software code to an external hard drive, according to a criminal complaint filed in the US District Court in Manhattan.
He was charged with one count of stealing US government property, which carries a maximum 10-year prison term. US prosecutors said Zhang admitted to copying the code onto a drive and taking it home.
Authorities said the software, owned by the US Treasury Department, cost about US$9.5 million to develop.
Companies and US government officials have been increasingly vocal about the threat of "economic espionage" by China and Russia. But experts asked about this case said it appeared to be one of simple theft. Lichtman said any suggestion Zhang was "some kind of spy working for the Chinese government ... is untrue."
Zhang was freed in January on US$200,000 bail and has yet to be indicted. His next court appearance had been due next Monday but has been delayed for another 30 days so federal prosecutors and Lichtman can continue plea negotiations.
Asked what he expected the outcome of the case would be, Lichtman said he hoped "for a humane and fair resolution."
Hard-working guy
Lichtman said that Zhang, who came to the United States 12 years ago on a student visa and was later employed on a temporary work visa, was "terrified" of being deported.
"He is a really hard-working guy," Lichtman said. "I felt bad for him."
Zhang told investigators he took the code "for private use and in order to ensure that it was available to him in the event that he lost his job," the criminal complaint said.
Zhang is said to have been hired as a contract employee in May by an unnamed technology consulting company used by the Fed to work on the Treasury software project.
The code, called the Government-wide Accounting and Reporting Program, or GWA, was developed to help track the billions of dollars the US government transfers daily. The GWA provides federal agencies with a statement of their account balance.
Jeffrey Lichtman, said he was retained last week by Zhang Bo, a 33-year-old former New York Fed contractor, who is in plea negotiations with the government.
"I felt that Zhang was being unfairly portrayed in the media," Lichtman said.
The New York lawyer has handled cases that have been splashed across the city's tabloids and has defended celebrity clients, including John "Junior" Gotti, the son of former New York mob leader John Gotti. The younger Gotti's trial in 2005 ended in a hung jury.
Zhang is accused of illegally copying the software code to an external hard drive, according to a criminal complaint filed in the US District Court in Manhattan.
He was charged with one count of stealing US government property, which carries a maximum 10-year prison term. US prosecutors said Zhang admitted to copying the code onto a drive and taking it home.
Authorities said the software, owned by the US Treasury Department, cost about US$9.5 million to develop.
Companies and US government officials have been increasingly vocal about the threat of "economic espionage" by China and Russia. But experts asked about this case said it appeared to be one of simple theft. Lichtman said any suggestion Zhang was "some kind of spy working for the Chinese government ... is untrue."
Zhang was freed in January on US$200,000 bail and has yet to be indicted. His next court appearance had been due next Monday but has been delayed for another 30 days so federal prosecutors and Lichtman can continue plea negotiations.
Asked what he expected the outcome of the case would be, Lichtman said he hoped "for a humane and fair resolution."
Hard-working guy
Lichtman said that Zhang, who came to the United States 12 years ago on a student visa and was later employed on a temporary work visa, was "terrified" of being deported.
"He is a really hard-working guy," Lichtman said. "I felt bad for him."
Zhang told investigators he took the code "for private use and in order to ensure that it was available to him in the event that he lost his job," the criminal complaint said.
Zhang is said to have been hired as a contract employee in May by an unnamed technology consulting company used by the Fed to work on the Treasury software project.
The code, called the Government-wide Accounting and Reporting Program, or GWA, was developed to help track the billions of dollars the US government transfers daily. The GWA provides federal agencies with a statement of their account balance.
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