Or Liew was charge for violations of the "Economic Espionage Act". And theft is more common as a charge since one doesn't need to prove as many extenuating fact

Or Liew was charge for violations of the "Economic Espionage Act". And theft is more common as a charge since one doesn't need to prove as many extenuating facts i.e. only that it was stolen, not why it was stolen. I suspect the author was being careful to be factual. https://www.fbi.gov/sanfrancisco/press-releases/2014/walter-liew-sentenced-to-15-years-in-prison-for-economic-espionage https://www.fbi.gov/sanfrancisco/press-releases/2014/walter-...