Posted on 11/02/2019 3:06:58 PM PDT by ransomnote
Department of Justice
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida announces the return of an indictment today of four individuals, including two Chinese nationals, an active-duty United States Navy officer, and his wife, on charges relating to a conspiracy to unlawfully smuggle military-style inflatable boats, with Evinrude MFE military outboard motors, to the People’s Republic of China. The Navy officer and two other defendants have also been charged with conspiring to violate firearms law, and the Navy officer has been charged with an additional firearms-related offense and with making false official statements.
The four defendants charged in the indictment are:
Fan Yang, 34, a naturalized citizen of the United States and Lieutenant in the United States Navy residing in Jacksonville, Florida; Yang Yang, 33, wife of Fan Yang, and a naturalized citizen of the United States residing in Jacksonville, Florida; Ge Songtao, 49, a citizen and resident of the People’s Republic of China; and Zheng Yan, 27, a citizen and resident of the People’s Republic of China.
The defendants were arrested on Oct. 17, 2019, and are currently detained.
All four defendants have been charged with conspiring to submit false export information and to fraudulently attempt to export articles from the United States. Additionally, Yang Yang, Ge Songtao, and Zheng Yan have been charged with causing the submission of false and misleading information into the U.S. Automated Export System, and fraudulently attempting to export seven vessels and eight engines. If convicted for conspiracy or for the submission of false export information, the charged defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. If convicted on the attempted-smuggling charge, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Fan Yang, Yang Yang, and Ge Songtao are charged with other offenses as well. All three have been charged with conspiring to violate laws prohibiting an alien admitted under a nonimmigrant visa from possessing a firearm and prohibiting the transfer of a firearm to a nonresident. Fan Yang has also been charged with making a false statement to a firearms dealer, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, and with making false official statements in his application for a security clearance, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Coolican and Heather Schmidt, Senior Trial Attorney, Counterintelligence and Export Section, U.S. Department of Justice.
Fan Yang, 34, a naturalized citizen of the United States and Lieutenant in the United States Navy residing in Jacksonville, Florida; Yang Yang, 33, wife of Fan Yang, and a naturalized citizen of the United States residing in Jacksonville, Florida; Ge Songtao, 49, a citizen and resident of the Peoples Republic of China; and Zheng Yan, 27, a citizen and resident of the Peoples Republic of China.
The defendants were arrested on Oct. 17, 2019, and are currently detained.
All four defendants have been charged with conspiring to submit false export information and to fraudulently attempt to export articles from the United States. Additionally, Yang Yang, Ge Songtao, and Zheng Yan have been charged with causing the submission of false and misleading information into the U.S. Automated Export System, and fraudulently attempting to export seven vessels and eight engines. If convicted for conspiracy or for the submission of false export information, the charged defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. If convicted on the attempted-smuggling charge, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Well, this is unusual...
I understand the necessity of keeping US military equipment out of the hands of foreigners, but it’s a rubber boat and an Evinrude motor.
If they were smuggling ETEC engines drag them out and shoot them. Then sell me one cheap.
I think this kind of equipment is used to board freighters (e.g., Somalia, piraters).
“This case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Coolican and Heather Schmidt, Senior Trial Attorney, Counterintelligence and Export Section, U.S. Department of Justice.”
But is there consensus?
“Fan Yang” So much loyalty and diversity and it isn’t just the Chinese. “Fail”
I’m thinkin’ someone just wanted a free little nifty inflatable & motor and had a relative-based inside source.
Still a crime, of course.
Interesting case.
Sounds like a pair of pandas
Chinese Navy officer stabbing Us in the back. Fits right in with the Ukrainian Army lieutenant colonel who was hired by the British born NSC advisor.
China just doing China things.
All of the Chinese are spies unless they have been here fir a few generations .
They are just moles here for the CCP .
China are stealing our jobs , our kids future , our universities , and sending it back to the Communist China .
Send all these spies back .
The Chicoms should have just ordered them from Bass Pro Shops........
Just some Chinese in their perpetual quest for bigger dinghies.
Perhaps the chinks do not make either? Look at LTC Vindman who moved here at age 3. Tell me all about assimilation and learning OUR ways? Hand ALL plus Vindman over to the stockade there.I recall hangings at
Leavenworth. Hillary should be hung ASAP for TREASON.
But you can get those practically anywhere.
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