A third man has pleaded guilty to his role in a plot to illegally export materials used in space and weapons technology to China, Hong Kong and Singapore, the US attorney’s office announced on Monday.
Jian Wei Ding, 50, of Singapore, pleaded guilty on Friday in the US District Court in Minneapolis to one count of conspiracy to violate export regulations. His co-defendants — Ping Cheng, 46, of Manhasset, New York, and Kok Tong Lim, 36, of Singapore — also pleaded guilty in recent weeks to one count of conspiracy.
In their plea agreements, the three men admitted that from March 23, 2007, through April 6 last year they conspired to violate export regulations by exporting and attempting to export high-modulus carbon-fiber material without a license.
The material is used in rockets, satellites, spacecraft and uranium enrichment. For national security reasons, a license from the US Department of Commerce is required to export it.
The plea agreements said Ding controlled several import and export firms, including one that acquired high-technology items for its customers. One of those customers is the China Academy of Space Technology, which builds satellites for the Chinese government.
Ding’s role was to manage the companies, maintain a relationship with the Chinese users of the material and provide money to buy the material. Cheng acted as the US agent for Ding’s companies and Lim’s role was to reach out to US suppliers.
The defendants dealt with an undercover Minnesota company that purported to be a supplier of aerospace commodities.
The men each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum US$1 million fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
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