Overview

• Shenghua Wen, 42, admitted on June 9 to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and to acting as an unregistered agent for North Korea after overstaying a U.S. student visa in 2013.
• Court documents show he shipped at least three container loads of firearms and ammunition from the Port of Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea under false export declarations.
• North Korean officials wired Wen about $2 million to procure military goods and sensitive devices, including a chemical threat identification unit and a handheld broadband receiver.
• He also attempted to acquire a civilian aircraft engine and a thermal imaging system for reconnaissance under direction from North Korean government contacts.
• Wen remains in federal custody and faces sentencing on August 18 with a potential 20-year term for export violations plus up to 10 years for illegal foreign agency.