Japanese scientist pleads guilty to lying to FBI in spy case

Associated Press WriterAKRON, Ohio (AP) -- A Japanese scientist pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to the FBI about the alleged theft of research materials from the Cleveland Clinic.

Hiroaki Serizawa, a researcher at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and former Cleveland Clinic scientist Takashi Okamoto, a friend of Serizawa, were accused of stealing biological materials used for research on Alzheimer's disease.

In pleading guilty, Serizawa, 40, of Kansas City, Kan., admitted that he provided false information to the FBI about his relationship with Okamoto. He had faced more serious charges including conspiracy to violate the economic espionage act.

He acknowledged that he lied when he denied knowing that Okamoto had taken a position with Riken, a Japanese government-sponsored research facility. He also understated the number of vials of material that were taken.

Robert Wallace, a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, said the government entered the plea agreement in order to get Serizawa's assistance in the case against Okamoto.

The government alleges that Okamoto removed research samples from the clinic, brought them to Serizawa's lab for storage, and left several hundred vials full of tap water in their place.

"Dr. Serizawa was deceived and manipulated by Dr. Okamoto," said Patrick McLaughlin, one of Serizawa's attorneys.

The FBI has estimated that the missing materials cost the Cleveland Clinic about $2 million in damage. The alleged theft and destruction of genetic materials led to the termination of the Cleveland Clinic's Alzheimer's studies.

No trial date is set for Okamoto, who is living in Japan. Federal officials are pursuing his extradition, assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Edwards said.

The maximum penalty for providing false information to the government is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Serizawa likely faces up to six months in prison. No sentencing date was set.

As part of the deal, the Immigration and Naturalization Service agreed not to try to deport Serizawa.

Serizawa said outside the courthouse that he is looking forward to getting back to his research in Kansas. Speaking in English and then in Japanese, Serizawa said, "This has been a very difficult ordeal for me and my family." He said he was grateful for the opportunity to remain in the United States.

Bob Hallinan, spokesman for the University of Kansas School of Medicine, confirmed that Serizawa is still employed there as a researcher, but "he is working under increased oversight."

Serizawa had faced two counts of conspiracy to violate the economic espionage act, interstate transportation of stolen property and making false statements to the government. Okamoto has pleaded innocent to the same charges.

Serizawa's trial was scheduled to begin May 13. It would have been the first criminal prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice under a 1996 law intended to prevent the theft of trade secrets by foreign governments.