An agent from the United Stats' Federal Bureau of Investigation with high-ranking clearance is facing possible 10 years in jail for betraying public trust when he pleaded guilty of acting as an "agent to China."
According to CNN, Chinese-born Kun Shan Chun who is also known as "Joey Chun" is an FBI employee who was arrested following an undercover operation conducted by the bureau in March.
Chun appeared in a court in New York on Monday where he pleaded guilty to charges involving the disclosure of sensitive information to the Chinese government.
The U.S. Department of Justice released details about Chun and his case in an official statement published on their official website on August 1.
Who is Joey Chun?
Joey Chun served as an electronics technician for the FBI since 1997 and gained top secret clearance to access some sensitive information in the agency.
When he was just starting at the FBI, Chun was assigned to work at the New York Field Office's Technical Branch, more specifically in the Computerized Central Monitoring Facility.
In 1998, Chun was granted Top Secret security clearance which entails being able to access "sensitive and, in some instance, classified information."
Chun was tasked to deal with correspondence with Chinese nationals who are aware of his connections with the bureau.
Being put in the position, Chun took advantage of his power and "collected sensitive FBI information and caused it to be transmitted to [an unidentified Chinese official] and others, while at the same time engaging in a prolonged and concerted effort to conceal from the FBI his illicit relationships with these individuals."
Chun's Case
The 47-year-old naturalized American citizen was arrested on March 16, 2016, after he was caught red-handed through an undercover mission.
Apparently, Chun remained acquainted with distant relatives in China affiliated with a firm identified as Zhuhai Kolion Technology Company Ltd. or "Kolion."
According to the Justice Department, Chun maintained financial interest in the company via a previous investment by his parents and used his access to FBI records "to perform research and consulting tasks in the United States."
This, says Southern District of New York Attorney Preet Bharara, was when he betrayed his sworn duty to the American people.
"Americans who act as unauthorized foreign agents commit a federal offense that betrays our nation and threatens our security," Bharara noted, adding that the fact that he is an employee of the FBI makes the betrayal "more duplicitous."
On Tuesday, Chun pleaded guilty of the charges against him under oath in the presence of Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge James C. Francis IV and will be receiving sentence in December.