Amin Yu, Illicit Export Scheme, Florida 2023

Orlando, Florida – Amin Yu, a 53-year-old woman, has been charged with operating an illicit export scheme to China, violating U.S. laws and regulations. According to the 18-count superseding indictment, Yu conspired to defraud the United States and commit offenses against it, among other crimes.

Yu, who worked at the direction of co-conspirators for the Harbin Engineering University (HEU), a state-owned entity in China, allegedly obtained systems and components for marine submersible vehicles from U.S. companies and then illegally exported them to China. The indictment claims that Yu failed to file electronic export information as required by U.S. law and also filed false information.

The indictment further alleges that Yu significantly undervalued the items she exported and provided false end-user information. The case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Yu faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each of the money laundering counts, up to 10 years for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, and up to five years on all other counts. The indictment also notifies Yu that the United States intends to forfeit approximately $2,668,648.92, the alleged traceable proceeds of the offenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Irick of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys David C. Recker and Thea D. R. Kendler of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Yu’s alleged actions have sparked concerns about the potential national security implications of illicit export schemes.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are working together to bring Yu to justice and hold her accountable for her alleged crimes.

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