An illegal immigrant from China pleaded guilty to illegally exporting firearms, ammunition, and other military materials to North Korea.
The Justice Department explained that Shenghua Wen, 42, concealed the materials inside shipping containers. He was wired an estimated $2 million from North Korea to participate in the activity.
Prior to entering the United States on a student visa in 2012, Wen met with North Korean officials who directed him to secure the goods. In 2022, officials contacted Wen and directed him to purchase and smuggle firearms and technology from the United States.
“In 2023, at the direction of North Korean government officials, Wen shipped at least three containers of firearms out of the Port of Long Beach to China en route to their ultimate destination in North Korea,” the DOJ explained. “Wen took steps to conceal that he was illegally shipping firearms to North Korea by, among other things, filing false export information regarding the contents of the containers.”
Acting again in 2024, Wen purchased about 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition and obtained technology, including a “chemical threat identification device and a handheld broadband receiver that detects known, unknown, illegal, disruptive or interfering transmissions.” Other items acquired by Wen include a civilian airplane engine and a thermal imaging system.
“Wen admitted that at all relevant times he knew that it was illegal to ship firearms, ammunition, and sensitive technology to North Korea. He also admitted to never having the required licenses to export ammunition, firearms, and the above-described devices to North Korea,” the DOJ said, adding that he also 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.”
Wen has been in federal custody since December 2024.
The incident comes as Chinese citizens have been arrested in recent weeks for plots against the United States.
