Chinese Woman in Corn-Theft Case Avoids U.S. Conspiracy Charges in Iowa Trial

摘要

Federal prosecutors investigating the theft of genetically modified corn seed in Iowa have dropped charges against a Chinese woman accused of conspiracy after a judge said her instant messages couldn't be used as evidence at trial (United States v. Shaoming, S.D. Iowa, No. 13-cr-00147, charges dropped 7/28/15). The seeds, worth tens of millions of dollars to Monsanto Co. and DuPont Co., were stolen from test fields by other conspirators who then attempted to ship them in plastic bags from Illinois to Hong Kong, the U.S. claims.