Former Federal Reserve Adviser Arrested for Allegedly Leaking Trade Secrets to China

A former senior adviser to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, John Harold Rogers, has been arrested on charges of conspiring with Chinese officials to steal sensitive Federal Reserve trade secrets, according to federal court filings unsealed on Friday.

Prosecutors allege that Rogers collaborated with individuals in China to obtain confidential economic data and briefing materials intended for the Fed’s Board of Governors and the Open Market Committee. Additionally, he is accused of making false statements to the Federal Reserve Inspector General regarding his activities.

According to the indictment, Rogers used his position at the Federal Reserve to provide classified information to Chinese operatives who posed as graduate students from a Chinese university. However, prosecutors claim that these individuals were actually intelligence and security officers working for the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The stolen data reportedly included key economic datasets and briefing books meant for Federal Reserve Board governors.

The case highlights growing concerns over economic espionage and foreign interference in U.S. institutions, particularly in the financial sector. Authorities continue to investigate the extent of the alleged breach and its potential impact on U.S. economic security.