The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a California man has been charged with exporting guns and ammunition to North Korea. press release Tuesday.
Authorities arrested Wen Shenghua, 41, on Tuesday on “criminal charges of exporting firearms, ammunition, and other munitions to North Korea,” according to a Justice Department statement. The items were hidden inside a shipping container departing from Long Beach, California, according to the Department of Justice.
The Justice Department said in an affidavit that Wen, a Chinese national, had access to firearms, export-controlled technology and ammunition for shipment to North Korea. Wen, along with his co-conspirators, allegedly hid firearms and ammunition in shipping containers headed from Long Beach “to North Korea via Hong Kong” and sent them to North Korea.
“As Mr. Wen is a Chinese national illegally present in the United States over his student visa, he is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition,” the Department of Justice said in a press release. “Mr. Wen does not have the necessary permits from the U.S. government to export ammunition, firearms, and other equipment seized by law enforcement from his home to North Korea.”
The Justice Department said messages left on Mr. Wen's cell phone from early 2024 showed him discussing sending “military equipment” to North Korea with his co-conspirators. The message also included a photo of Wen featuring “items whose export is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations,” authorities said.
The Justice Department said in a press release that between January and April of this year, Wen sent text messages and emails “to a U.S.-based broker” regarding the acquisition of “civil aircraft engines.”
According to the Justice Department, Wen has been charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
