Okamoto had been researching Alzheimer disease at the Cleveland Clinic from January 1997 to July 1999, when he abruptly resigned. According to a federal indictment, Okamoto stole several hundred vials containing cell line reagents and DNA samples, destroyed remaining materials and lab notes, and left behind mislabeled vials filled with tap water. Okamoto then shipped the stolen DNA and reagents to Serizawa for safekeeping.
In August, Okamoto retrieved the purloined materials from Serizawa and took them to the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), a facility near Tokyo funded largely by the Japanese government and at which he had recently obtained a position as a neuroscience researcher. Okamoto has been charged with economic espionage, altering and destroying trade secrets, and interstate and international transfer of stolen materials. The Justice Department's request for Okamoto's extradition to face trial in the United States "is under consideration by the government of Japan," ...
