On Monday, officials revealed that a Chinese national, suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, acquired a gun store in Texas as part of a scheme to ship firearms to North Korea.
Shenghua Wen, 42, lives in Ontario, California, and was arrested in December 2024 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Wen pleaded guilty to charges related to “exporting firearms, ammunition, and other military equipment to North Korea by concealing them in shipping containers.” He has admitted to a conspiracy to breach the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and one count of acting as an unauthorized agent for a foreign government.
Wen, who entered the U.S. in 2012 on a student visa, is said to have overstayed after his visa expired in December 2013, as per judicial documents acquired by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Allegations indicate that he was in contact with North Korean officials before arriving in the U.S. while at the North Korean embassy in China, where he was instructed to secure goods for North Korea.
Reports suggest that Wen shipped at least three firearms from Long Beach, California, to China, eventually destined for North Korea. He reportedly purchased the gun store in Houston, Texas, in May 2023 and transported weapons from Texas to California to facilitate the shipments.
In December 2023, it was reported that one of his shipments left Long Beach concealed within wardrobes that contained refrigerators.
After departing Long Beach, this cargo arrived in Hong Kong before making its way to North Korea’s Nampo.
In September 2024, Wen reportedly procured around 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Along with firearms, Wen also acquired technology aimed at supporting North Korean operations, including devices for detecting chemical threats and handheld broadband receivers for monitoring illegal transmissions.
North Korean officials allegedly funded about $2 million for the acquisition of these weapons and related items.
Wen could face up to 30 years in prison, with his sentencing set for August.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment regarding the specifics of the case, but indicated that further announcements are expected in the coming months following a pause in the sentencing process.
