U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Eastern District of Wisconsin
414-297-1700

NEWS RELEASE:

Manitowoc Resident Sentenced to Prison for Exporting Restricted Electronic Components to China

The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Ning Wen (DOB: 4/12/49) was sentenced on January 18, 2006 to 60 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge William C. Griesbach for exportcontrol and money laundering violations. He was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and given two years’ supervised release. He has also agreed to forfeit his interest in his Manitowoc home and $329,000 cash.

In September, a jury convicted Ning Wen of nine counts related to his participation in a conspiracy to illegally export more than $300,000 in electronic components to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from 1991 to 2004. The electronic components, primarily semi-conductor chips, had a wide variety of applications including military radar and communications applications, and as such, required the permission of the United States government to export to the PRC because of national security concerns over potential uses. Wen and his coconspirators, including his wife, Hailin Lin, and two Chinese nationals, intentionally disregarded the licensing requirements and shipped the items to China, where they were distributed to entities and institutes including some that conduct military research and development. The jury also convicted Wen of laundering money for the purpose of promoting the illegal exports.

Wen’s wife, co-defendant Hailin Lin, previously pled guilty to the same charges. Judge Griesbach sentenced Ms. Lin to 42 months’ imprisonment and a $50,000 fine on December 21, 2005. The two other codefendants, Jian Guo Qu and Ruo Ling Wang have also been sentenced. Jian Guo Qu (9/30/59), a male citizen of the People’s Republic of China employed at the Beijing Rich Linscience Electronic Company was sentenced on July 26, 2005 to 48 months in prison and a $2,000 fine. Ruo Ling Wang (5/14/64), wife of Qu; also a citizen of the People’s Republic of China employed at the Beijing Rich Linscience Electronic Company was sentenced to time served while in custody - 7 months and a $1,500 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. The Manitowoc Police Department also assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica N. O’Neil and Michelle Jacobs.

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