A Chinese national residing illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to illegally exporting firearms, ammunition and military equipment to North Korea under direction from Pyongyang, according to the US Department of Justice.
Shenghua Wen, 42, of Ontario, California, admitted to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, the Justice Department announced Monday.
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, enacted in 1977, grants the president authority to restrict commerce with countries for national security reasons.
According to prosecutors, Wen shipped at least three containers of firearms destined for North Korea in 2023. One container successfully reached Nampo, North Korea, via Hong Kong.
To execute the operation, Wen purchased a firearms business in Houston, Texas, and used fraudulent paperwork to conceal the actual contents of his shipping containers, prosecutors stated.
Wen, who was arrested in December, also allegedly acquired approximately 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition and obtained “sensitive technology,” including a chemical threat identification device, intended for North Korea.
Prosecutors allege that North Korean officials directed Wen to procure these weapons and sensitive materials. He reportedly met these officials at the North Korean Embassy in China before entering the United States on a student visa in 2012.
Wen allegedly received approximately $2 million to carry out the scheme.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California stated that “Wen admitted that at all relevant times he knew that it was illegal to ship firearms, ammunition, and sensitive technology to North Korea. He also admitted to never having the required licenses to export ammunition, firearms, and the above-described devices to North Korea.”
The statement continued: “He further admitted to acting at the direction of North Korean government officials and that he had not provided notification to the Attorney General of the United States that he was acting in the United States at the direction and control of North Korea as required by law.”
During FBI questioning, Wen stated he believed the North Korean government wanted the weapons and ammunition to prepare for an attack against South Korea, according to a criminal complaint filed in September.
Wen is scheduled for sentencing in August. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and up to 10 years for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
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