Han Li, Exporting Restricted Technology, California 2024

Chinese national Han Li, 44, also known as ‘Anson’ Li, has been arrested in a major crackdown on the illicit export of U.S. technology to China. According to the indictment, Li and his co-conspirator, Lin Chen, 64, conspired to illegally export U.S. semiconductor manufacturing technology to a prohibited Chinese company.

The indictment alleges that between May 2015 and August 2018, Li and Chen used intermediary companies to evade export restrictions imposed by the Department of Commerce. The defendants sought to obtain a DTX-150 Automatic Diamond Scriber Breaker machine from Dynatex International, a Santa Rosa, California company. The machine is used to cut thin semiconductors used in electronics, also known as silicon wafers.

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. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Ismail Ramsey, stated that the 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 said, “As alleged, the defendants sought to evade export controls to obtain U.S. semiconductor manufacturing technology for a prohibited Chinese company. 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.”

Lin Chen was arrested in Chicago yesterday. The defendants face charges 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 (“IEEPA”) and Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”).

FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp stated, “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.”

Han Li and Lin Chen are accused of conspiring to evade export restrictions imposed by the Department of Commerce on Changdu GaStone Technology Company, a company based in China. The company was added to the Entity List in August 2014, making it ineligible to receive exports of certain U.S. technologies and services.

Defendant: Han Li, 44, also known as ‘Anson’ Li.

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”).

City and State: San Francisco, California.

Date: Not specified in the release, though it was unsealed.

Outcome: Currently pending.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/chinese-national-arrested-us-alleged-role-scheme-illegally-export-semiconductor