A Chinese national living illegally in California has been arrested and charged with conspiring to procure restricted weapons and military-grade technology for North Korea, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
The suspect, Shenghua Wen, 41, is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme to send firearms, ammunition, and military-related equipment to the North Korean regime. According to federal prosecutors, the items were intended to help North Korea prepare for an attack on South Korea.
Wen entered the United States on a student visa in 2012 but remained unlawfully after his visa expired. Federal investigators allege that he worked directly with North Korean officials to obtain weapons, ammunition, and advanced military equipment. Wen reportedly received approximately $2 million in wire transfers from North Korean operatives to fund the purchases.
To facilitate the operation, Wen established an export company in Texas and used intermediaries, known as straw purchasers, to acquire firearms and ammunition to avoid detection by federal regulators. The weapons and equipment were transported to California, concealed in cargo containers with falsified manifests, and shipped through Hong Kong to North Korea.
During a search of Wen’s Ontario, California, home, federal agents seized several restricted items, including 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a chemical threat identification device known as the Serstech Arx mkII Pharma, and a device capable of detecting hidden eavesdropping transmissions.
Prosecutors also allege that Wen was tasked with acquiring military uniforms in the United States, which he said were intended for North Korean soldiers to disguise themselves during a surprise attack on South Korea.
Wen’s actions violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a federal law prohibiting unlicensed exports of restricted items to North Korea. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations agent Shawn Gibson emphasized that the arrest not only prevented further restricted items from reaching North Korea but also provided critical intelligence for the United States and its allies.
