An indictment unsealed in the Northern District of California charges Chinese nationals Han Li, 44, also known as ‘Anson’ Li, and Lin Chen, 64, with crimes related to a conspiracy to illegally export U.S. technology to prohibited end users in China, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Export Administration Regulations.
The technology at issue includes a machine manufactured by Dynatex International, a Santa Rosa, California company, that is used to process silicon wafer microchips. Chen was arrested in Chicago yesterday.
“The export restrictions at issue in this case were put in place to prevent the illicit procurement of commodities and technologies for unauthorized military end use in the People’s Republic of China,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail Ramsey. “This office will continue to vigorously enforce the nation’s export laws, including those pertaining to advanced technologies, to protect our national security.”
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division stated, “As alleged, the defendants sought to evade export controls to obtain U.S. semiconductor manufacturing technology for a prohibited Chinese company.” Olsen added, “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing export controls and holding accountable those who seek to illicitly procure U.S.-developed technologies that puts our national security at risk.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp said, “Stopping the illegal export of U.S. technology to China is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We will aggressively pursue anyone who violates export control laws designed to protect our national and economic security.” Tripp also encouraged U.S. business leaders to establish a relationship with their local FBI field office to help protect against the pervasive threat of criminals looking to steal American technology.
HSI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King emphasized the importance of interagency collaboration in preventing illegal exports that could compromise sensitive technologies and our national security as well as undermine our American economy. King thanked their partners at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Dept. of Commerce’ Bureau of Industry and Security, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, and the Dept. of Justice National Security Division for their assistance.
According to the indictment, between at least May 2015 and August 2018, Li and Chen conspired to evade the export restrictions imposed by the Department of Commerce on Changdu GaStone Technology Company, a Chinese company added to the Entity List in August 2014. The defendants sought to obtain a DTX-150 Automatic Diamond Scriber Breaker machine from Dynatex International, a Santa Rosa, California company, without the required license and authorization.
Related Federal Cases
- California Man Charged In Scheme To Illegally Export Semiconductor Tech · California
- Navy Sailor Busted for Selling Secrets to China · California
- San Jose Tech Whiz Pleads Guilty to Hacking Cisco’s Cloud · California
- California Man Sentenced to 16 Months for $3.3M Email Scam · Washington
- Irvine Engineer Accused of Stealing Trade Secrets for Chinese Firms · California
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
CybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrime