A California man confessed to helping the North Korean regime prepare for an attack in a “sophisticated scheme” to illegally obtain restricted weapons and military-grade technology, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Shenghua Wen, a Chinese national illegally residing in Ontario, California, conspired with North Korean officials to obtain prohibited items before traveling to the U.S. as a student in 2012, the Justice Department alleges in a criminal complaint. Wen, who allegedly overstayed his visa and remained in the US illegally, was detained on Tuesday by the FBI.
During interviews with the FBI, Wen said he “believed the North Korean government wanted the weapons, ammunition and other military equipment to prepare an attack against South Korea,” according to the complaint, which adds that the North Korean government paid to Wen two million dollars to obtain the articles.
In addition to the weapons and equipment, Wen told investigators that the North Korean regime also tasked him with obtaining military uniforms from the US, which “would later be used by the North Korean armed forces to disguise their soldiers and carry out a surprise attack against South Korea,” the complaint states.
Thousands of US military personnel are stationed in South Korea to help bolster security and stability in the region. Justice Department officials said the detention was not related to domestic political unrest on Tuesday amid a declaration of martial law and clashes outside the South Korean parliament.
Prosecutors allege that Wen created an export company in Texas where firearms and ammunition were purchased and transported to the Los Angeles area, then packed in cargo containers with false inventory manifests to be shipped to North Korea. in 2023.
During the execution of a search warrant at Wen’s home, authorities seized 50,000 rounds of ammunition, sophisticated chemical detection equipment and a tool used to detect listening devices, which Wen allegedly said he also intended to send to Korea from the North.
During a search of his cellphone, the FBI discovered numerous messages “between Wen and several (North Korean) co-conspirators containing images of firearms and electronic devices,” the complaint states.
“It is unknown what additional harm Mr. Wen could have committed if not for the intervention of law enforcement,” said US Attorney Martin Estrada during a press conference on Tuesday.
CNN is trying to locate information about Wen’s lawyer. If found guilty of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, Estrada said.
“The consequences of these actions cannot be overstated when technology and sensitive items fall into the wrong hands, especially those of hostile nations,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations.
Akil Davis, head of the FBI’s Los Angeles division, said: “The investigative team not only prevented more restricted items from going to the North Korean regime, but also collected valuable information for the United States and our allies.”