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发帖数: 2198 | 1 【 以下文字转载自 Military 讨论区 】
发信人: lengygf (lengygf), 信区: Military
标 题: 加州华人女间谍偷运军工产品回中国 面临150年刑期
发信站: BBS 未名空间站 (Tue May 30 17:22:09 2017, 美东)
Los Angeles-area woman arrested on federal charges alleging a scheme to
smuggle restricted space communications technology to China
LOS ANGELES – A Pomona woman was arrested Tuesday morning on federal
charges that accuse her of conspiring to procure and illegally export
sensitive space communications technology to her native China.
Si Chen, also known as Cathy Chen, 32, is expected to be arraigned Tuesday
afternoon in U.S. District Court on charges contained in an indictment that
was returned by a federal grand jury April 27 and unsealed following her
arrest.
The 14-count indictment accuses Chen of violating the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which controls and restricts the
export of certain goods and technology from the United States to foreign
nations. Chen is also charged with conspiracy, money laundering, making
false statements on an immigration application, and using a forged passport.
According to the indictment, from March 2013 to December 2015, Chen
purchased and smuggled sensitive items to China without obtaining licenses
from the U.S. Department of Commerce that are required under IEEPA. Those
items allegedly included components commonly used in military communications
“jammers” from which Chen removed the export-control warning stickers
prior to shipping. Additionally, Chen is suspected of smuggling
communications devices worth more than $100,000 that are commonly used in
space communications applications. On the shipping paperwork Chen falsely
valued the items at $500. The indictment further describes how Chen received
payments for the illegally exported products through an account held at a
bank in China by a family member.
“Federal export laws are designed to protect American interests by
preventing the proliferation of technology that may fall into the wrong
hands,” said Acting United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown. “We will
vigorously pursue those who traffic items that could harm our national
security if they land in the wrong hands.”
Chen was taken into custody without incident Tuesday morning by special
agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export
Enforcement (OEE); and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
“One of HSI’s top enforcement priorities is preventing sensitive
technology from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm
America or its interests,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for
HSI Los Angeles. “The export of items like those identified in this case
are tightly controlled with good reason. Given what’s at stake, HSI will
continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners to combat this
threat and hold the perpetrators accountable for putting the U.S. at risk.”
In addition to the export violations, Chen is also charged with employing
several aliases and using a forged passport in an effort to conceal her
alleged smuggling activities on behalf of unnamed co-conspirators in China.
The indictment alleges the defendant used a Chinese passport bearing her
photo and a false name – “Chunping Ji” – to rent an office in Pomona
where she took delivery of the export-controlled items. After receiving the
goods, the indictment alleges Chen shipped the devices to Hong Kong in
parcels that bore her false name, along with false product descriptions and
monetary values, all done in an effort to avoid attracting law enforcement
scrutiny.
Under IEEPA, it is crime to willfully export or attempt to export items that
appear on the Commerce Control List without a license from the U.S.
Department of Commerce. These are items authorities have determined could be
detrimental to regional stability and national security.
“The partnership between OEE, HSI and DCIS was critical in the apprehension
of Si Chen,” said Richard Weir, Special Agent in Charge of Commerce’s
Office of Export Enforcement Los Angeles Field Office. “We will continue to
work with our law enforcement partners to identify, deter, and prevent any
suspected violations.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement
partners will relentlessly pursue anyone who violates laws that are designed
to preserve and protect the Department of Defense’s critical technologies,
” stated Chris Hendrickson, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal
Investigative Service. “Precious DoD resources are invested in technology,
and its theft puts our brave soldiers, marines and airmen at risk.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime.
Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in
court.
If convicted of the 14 charges in the indictment, Chen would face a
statutory maximum penalty of 150 years in prison.
This case is the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by HSI,
OEE and DCIS. The probe began in 2015 after U.S. Customs and Border
Protection alerted HSI about a suspicious parcel its officers intercepted
that contained communications equipment sent by “Chunping Ji.”
The case against Chen is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Judith A. Heinz of the National Security Division in the United
States Attorney’s Office. | u***n
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