Gibsonton, FL – In a shocking case of corporate corruption, 51-year-old Pen Yu, also known as Ben Yu, and 45-year-old Gregory Muñoz have pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy charges for their roles in a scheme to defraud biochemical company MilliporeSigma and divert millions of dollars’ worth of products to China using falsified export documents.
According to court documents, the two defendants began their scheme in at least July 2016 and continued through at least May 2022, using their positions of trust within MilliporeSigma to procure deeply discounted biochemical products. They then used falsified export documents to ship these products to China, evading detection by law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
The scheme was uncovered when MilliporeSigma discovered evidence of wrongdoing within its ranks. Rather than sweeping the misconduct under the rug, the company made the early decision to cooperate with the Justice Department, resulting in the convictions of responsible individuals.
“Faking an affiliation with an academic research lab to obtain controlled biochemical materials, and then sending those materials to China, is not only wrong, but illegal,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “Today’s announcement provides yet another fact pattern for universities to beware of – the misuse of academic institutions by outsiders who seek to obscure the actual customer of controlled items.”
Pen Yu, also known as Ben Yu, and Gregory Muñoz have each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Their sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
The Justice Department has declined to prosecute MilliporeSigma, citing the company’s voluntary self-disclosure and exceptional cooperation. This marks the first time the National Security Division has declined to prosecute a company under its voluntary self-disclosure program.
“When a business uncovers criminal wrongdoing within its ranks, the company is far better off reporting the violation than waiting for the Justice Department to discover it,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “That’s exactly what MilliporeSigma did in this case, and we commend them for their cooperation and commitment to transparency.”
Related Federal Cases
- Medicare Scam Lands Florida Man 5 Years · New York
- ID Theft Ring Scammed Lenders Out of Millions · Florida
- Florida Gun Dealer Lawrence Destefano Indicted in Ghost Gun Ring · New York
- Florida Gunrunner Faces 71 Counts in NY Ghost Gun Pipeline · New York
- Jamaican Lottery Scammer Barrett Extradited to Florida · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
