A Chinese national who had been illegally residing in California pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of exporting ammunition and other military items to North Korea, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Wen pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—a federal law that allows the president to regulate international trade on national security grounds—and operating as an unauthorized foreign government agent.
Prosecutors stated that Wen met with officials of the North Korean regime at the country’s embassy in China before he entered the United States on a student visa in 2012. Wen continued to reside illegally in the United States after his visa expired in 2013.
According to the DOJ, the North Korean officials allegedly instructed Wen through an online messaging platform to procure firearms and other sensitive goods from the United States and smuggle them to North Korea via China.
Among the items purchased by Wen are 60,000 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition, “a chemical threat identification device,” a broadband receiver for detecting “interfering transmissions,” a civilian airplane engine, and a thermal imaging system, on behalf of the North Korean regime, according to prosecutors.
Wen allegedly received $2 million from the officials to buy firearms and other goods for North Korea.
“Wen admitted that at all relevant times he knew that it was illegal to ship firearms, ammunition, and sensitive technology to North Korea,” the DOJ said in a statement.
“He also admitted to never having the required licenses to export ammunition, firearms, and the above-described devices to North Korea.”
In addition, Wen admitted “to acting at the direction of North Korean government officials and that he had not provided notification to the Attorney General of the United States that he was acting in the United States at the direction and control of North Korea as required by law,” the DOJ said.
Wen is scheduled to face sentencing on Aug. 18. He could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for violating the IEEPA, and up to 10 years in prison for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
The Epoch Times contacted Wen’s lawyer for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
