US federal prosecutors have accused a Chinese illegal migrant of
exporting guns and ammunition to North Korea, which funneled him $2
million to purchase the equipment, according to newly unsealed court
documents.
Shenghua Wen, who was living in Ontario, Calif., also admitted he tried
to purchase military uniforms, which prosecutors said was part of an
apparent attempt to disguise North Koreans so they could conduct a
“surprise attack” against South Korea.
[1]A black box with buttons and switches, reportedly used for shipping
weapons from California to North Korea
A device seized from Chinese illegal immigrant Shenghua Wen’s home in
California by federal agents in a raid. Justice Department
The complaint, filed Nov. 26, alleged that Wen “successfully exported
at least two shipments of firearms and ammunition to North Korea by
concealing the items inside shipping containers that were shipped from
Long Beach, California, through Hong Kong, China, to North Korea.”
He is charged with conspiring to violate American sanctions on North
Korea that ban sending US dollars or goods to the country without
permission.
At the direction of Pyongyang, Wen was still arranging shipments to
North Korea as recently as this summer.
On Aug. 14, federal agents seized “a chemical threat identification
device” and a “handheld broadband receiver that detects known, unknown,
illegal, disruptive, or interfering transmissions” he admitted to
procuring for the North Korean military.
In another raid on Sept. 6, law enforcement discovered and took 50,000
rounds of 9mm ammunition hidden in a van parked outside his home.
[2]A devices seized from the suspect's home.
Other items discovered on a raid of the migrant’s home. Justice
Department
Wen admitted to the allegations “during a series of Mirandized
interviews,” according to the complaint.
Wen entered the United States on a one-year student visa in 2012, but
he “remained in the United States illegally” after it expired,
according to the criminal complaint.
“Based on information from the Department of Homeland Security, Wen was
ordered removed from the United States in 2018,” the document said,
without clarifying why he still remained in the country.
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His scheme was in the works for years, as the Chinese national told
investigators “that he met North Korean government officials at two
separate North Korean Consulates in China before he came to the United
States.”
“According to Wen, during these meetings at the North Korean Consulates
in China, North Korean government officials directed Wen to procure
goods on behalf of the North Korean government,” investigators wrote in
the affidavit.
[3]Images sent on the migrant's cell phone.
Images sent on the Wen’s cell phone. Justice Department
“Wen stated that he was likely selected to procure goods on behalf of
the North Korean government because he was good at smuggling.”
Because he was in the country illegally, Wen told investigators that
“he knew he could not purchase firearms directly so he used other
people to purchase the firearms.”
“Wen explained that he knew that if he attempted to purchase firearms,
the firearm stores would contact the ATF,” the complaint said.
It is unclear if the strawmen purchasers were aware of the final
destination intended for the firearms.
He was also intending to send additional technology to North Korea,
include a civilian airplane engine, according to the affidavit.
“Wen stated that North Korean government officials directed him to
purchase U.S. civilian plane engines for the North Korean military,”
investigators wrote. “According to WEN, these engines would be used to
help develop the North Korean military drone program.”
“Wen explained that he believed the North Korean government wanted the
weapons, ammunition, and other military-related equipment to prepare
for an attack against South Korea.”
