Jerry Markon

A New Orleans businessman pleaded guilty to espionage yesterday, admitting that he gave the Chinese government highly sensitive military information he obtained from a former Defense Department official.

Tai Shen Kuo, 58, said in court papers that he plied the official with gifts, cash and dinners to secure classified projections of U.S. military sales to Taiwan. He was paid $50,000 to pass the materials to his Chinese contact through e-mails and telephone calls to Beijing, the documents said.

Kuo pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Alexandria to conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government. He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 8.