Chinese nationals convicted of illegally exporting military technology to China

efforts aimed at disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations that profit from the illegal exportation of sensitive U.S. technology that threatens our national security,” said “Matthew J. Etre, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations in Boston.

“This was a significant verdict in a joint investigation with ICE, Commerce, DCIS, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Warren Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of FBI’s Boston Field Office. “The illegal export of U.S. defense technology to foreign countries is harmful to the national security of the United States. These types of violations will continue to be aggressively investigated because this conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.”

“The convictions in this case are the end result of a joint investigation conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and its partner federal law enforcement agencies,” said Resident Agent In Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey. “This investigation demonstrates the commitment DCIS has to ensuring that sensitive military equipment and technology are not illegally exported to restricted countries, which could put America’s war fighters and the Nation at considerable risk.”

Wu and Wei both face up to twenty years in prison to be followed by three years supervised release and a $1 million fine. After serving their sentence, both will face deportation to China.

Chitron-U.S. faces up to a $1 million fine for each count in the Indictment charging the company with illegal export of U.S. Munitions List items and $500,000 for each count in the Indictment charging them with illegal export of Commerce Department-controlled electronics. Sentencing is scheduled for 17 August 2010.

Shenzhen Chitron Electronics Company Limited, the Chinese company owned by Wu which received the U.S. electronics and delivered the parts to Chinese end-users, was also indicted for the same crimes. The court has entered a contempt order against Chitron-Shenzhen for refusing to appear for trial and fined the corporation $1.9 million dollars.

Co-defendant Bo Li, aka Eric Lee, previously pleaded guilty to making false statements on shipping documents, and faces five years in prison to be followed by three years supervised release and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for 22 July 2010, in Boston.

The case was investigated by the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; FBI; and Defense Criminal Investigative Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys B. Stephanie Siegmann and John A. Capin of Office Anti-Terrorism and National Security Unit for the District of Massachusetts.