A San Bernardino County man, Shenghua Wen, has been arrested on charges of exporting firearms, ammunition, and military items to North Korea. The arrest was made based on a federal criminal complaint that accuses Wen of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Wen, a 41-year-old Chinese national residing illegally in the United States, was taken into custody and is scheduled to appear in the United States District Court in Los Angeles. His arraignment will take place in the coming weeks.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada stated, "It is essential that we protect our country from hostile foreign states that have adverse interests to our nation." He expressed gratitude towards law enforcement for their efforts in stopping this threat.
FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director Akil Davis emphasized the importance of the arrest, noting that it prevented additional restricted items from reaching North Korea and provided valuable intelligence for the U.S. and its allies.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Wen intended to ship firearms and ammunition to North Korea by hiding them inside shipping containers sent from Long Beach through Hong Kong. In August, authorities seized devices from Wen's home intended for military use in North Korea. Additionally, approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition were confiscated in September.
Messages retrieved from Wen’s iPhone revealed his discussions about shipping military-grade equipment to North Korea. From January to April 2024, he communicated with a U.S.-based broker about acquiring a civilian plane engine.
Wen overstayed his student visa and lacks licenses required by the U.S. government to export such items. Shawn Gibson from Homeland Security Investigations stated that illegal export attempts are thoroughly investigated due to their impact on national security.
Bryan D. Denny of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General highlighted Wen’s arrest as significant progress in protecting national security and ensuring accountability for alleged misconduct.
Gregory Dunlap from the Office of Export Enforcement described Wen’s actions as an alarming violation of sanctions and export control laws.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; DCIS; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security. Prosecutors Sarah E. Gerdes and Ahmed Almudallal are handling the case.
A complaint contains allegations against a defendant who is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.