Couple Charged With Illegal Export Attempt

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A California couple conspired to transfer high-speed analog-to-digital converters, a controlled technology with military applications, to China without an export license, federal prosecutors claim.

Authorities charged York Yuan Chang, also known as David Zhang, and his wife Leping Huang with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Administration Regulations by conspiring to export restricted technology to China without a license. They are also accused of lying to federal agents.

Chang and Huang, residents of Diamond Bar and owners of General Technology Systems Integration in Ontario, Calif., allegedly contracted with the Sichuan Institute of Solid-State Circuits in Chongqing, China, to develop two types of high-performance analog-to-digital converters that would match those produced by U.S. manufactures, according to an affidavit in support of the complaint.

Prosecutors claim that Huang lied to agents in 2009 when he told them that engineers had refused to take on the project, and that Chang told investigators that the project had been canceled.

But on separate occasions in 2009, Customs and Border Protection agents found computer files and documents that suggested the project was still on, according to prosecutors.

The technology that Chang and Huang allegedly tried to export has commercial and military applications, and is subject to export controls for national security and anti-terrorism reasons.

"Military applications include: RADAR, SONAR, electronic warfare, avionics imaging, munitions, and targeting," according to the affidavit.

Chang, 53, and Huang, 49, are each charged with conspiracy to export, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Chang is also charged with one count of making false statements, and Huang is charged with two counts of making false statements.

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