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Chinese man indicted on charges related to the illegal export of infrared cameras
DAYTON — A Hong Kong resident has been indicted on federal charges that he tried to buy 12 infrared thermal imaging cameras from a Dayton-area company to illegally export them.
Hing Shing Lau, also known as Victor Lau, is a foreign national living in Hong Kong, but was arrested in Canada on June 3. The grand jury that indicted him Tuesday, June 9, is in Dayton.
“Our office is currently taking the necessary steps to extradite Lau to the U.S. to face charges,”said Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that Lau tried to buy the cameras, which were manufactured in Texas, by contacting a company in the Dayton area. On three occasions, he transferred a total of $39,514 from Hong Kong to the U.S. as partial payment for the cameras, the indictment said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce controls export of these cameras to Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China for national security and regional stability reasons. This is because of the cameras’ potential use in a wide variety of civilian and military applications, including unmanned vehicle payloads, weapon sights, security and surveillance products, Lockhart said.
The indictment charges Lau with two counts of violating export control laws, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1 million, and four counts of money laundering. Each money laundering count is punishable by 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000.
FBI agents began investigating Lau in August 2008 after Lau called a Dayton-area businessman with whom he had done business in the past. Lau asked if he could sell him between 10 and 12 of the infrared/thermal imaging devices. The businessman told Lau he did not have the necessary export licenses, Lockhart said.
According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, Lau continued to contact the businessman by phone and email in an attempt to buy the cameras, finally arranging to meet the businessman in Toronto to take delivery of the cameras.
Armed with an arrest warrant issued by U.S. authorities, Canadian Immigration Authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Lau on June 3 at the Toronto International Airport . Lau was carrying $30,000, which authorities believe was for a final payment on the cameras.
Lockhart commended the investigation by FBI agents with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian immigration authorities, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Keller who is prosecuting the case.
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Comments
By Jim
June 10, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this
This is the Chinese research & development department or should I say copy & steal department hard at work. Everything they produce is done this way. Has been for years. It is well known in the manufacturing world. It saves the consumer a few bucks here and there so nothing is done about it. So get ready to buy their cheap cars made out of sub standard materials heading our way soon and airplanes in the future.
By Jim
June 10, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this
I’m happy to see some effort is being made to stop these theifs.
By Lee
June 10, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this
Me Chinese, me play joke. Me put pee pee in your coke.
By flipper
June 10, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this
As a Chinese decendent I say, “Yung Sow, Yung Choi, Phooeee!
By kay
June 10, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this
That was good lee.
By Ming
June 10, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this
Serve him right!
By Technology
June 10, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this
reverse engineering, we develop technology and the Chinese take it apart and make it for pennies on the dollar, one of the reasons our country is in the shape it’s in
By Max
June 10, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
reverse engineer? take it apart? Our corps gladly ship all the parts and directions for them to make it. CEOs benefit greatly from slave labor ya know.