Rogers Found Not Guilty of Economic Espionage

On February 3, 2026, after a two-week long trial, a jury found Dr. John Harold Rogers not guilty of conspiracy to commit economic espionage. The jury did find Dr. Rogers guilty of a false statement. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit economic espionage is fifteen years. The maximum sentence for a false statement is five years. The United States Sentencing Commission tracks convictions and sentences for various crimes. The median sentence for a false statement conviction for the past five years has been three months.

On behalf of Dr. Rogers, Mr. Gitlen thanked the jury for its attention and diligent work in reaching a fair verdict. Mr. Gitlen reiterated what defense counsel has stated from the beginning of representation—that Dr. Rogers was never a spy for the Chinese, and it is gratifying to know that the jury saw that too.

Media coverage of the acquittal by the Wall Street Journal and Law360.