The U.S. Justice Department says a Taiwanese-American man has pleaded guilty to spying for the Chinese government.

The department says Tai Shen Kuo, 58, admitted in a Virginia court near Washington to a charge of conspiracy to deliver national defense information. The New Orleans businessman, who faces up to life in prison, will be sentenced on August 8.

According to court documents, the alleged offenses took place from March 2007 to February 2008. Kuo is accused of obtaining secret information from Gregg Bergersen, who was a U.S. Defense Department analyst, and then passing it on to a Chinese official. He allegedly provided Bergersen with gifts, cash and trips.

The Justice Department says the Chinese official paid Kuo approximately $50,000.

Bergersen had previously pleaded guilty in the case and faces up to 10 years in jail.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.