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April 5, 2006 By Peter Shinkle ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Woman pleads guilty to illegal exportation of technology A businesswoman has pleaded guilty in federal court in St. Louis to money laundering and export violations in connection with shipments of technology out of the United States. Bing Zhao, 39, a native of China who lives in Frontenac, pleaded guilty Tuesday in a prosecution that is shrouded in secrecy. Her plea agreement was filed under seal. Zhao faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jean Hamilton on June 30. The charges against Zhao provide little information about the technology exported, other than to describe them as "electronic components" that were items designated by the U.S. government as "restricted commodities.” The charges say the shipments occurred from Dec. 12, 2003, to March 2, 2004, but they do not specify to which country the items were shipped. "We don't comment beyond things that are in the public record," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Fagan, who is prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway declined to comment. Zhao pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful export activities, admitting that she submitted false or misleading information on export documents known as shipper's export declarations. She also entered a guilty plea on behalf of her unincorporated business, Longitude Electronics, admitting that she used wire transfers of funds from abroad to pay for electronic components that were shipped illegally. The charges did not indicate the dollar amount of the shipments, nor whether the electronic components might have any military applications. Douglas McNabb, Zhao's lawyer, said his client is remorseful. "There were certainly some very serious mistakes made by Ms. Zhao," he said. "She feels terrible about it, and this court will never see her back before the court again. It's something that she's ashamed of, frankly." McNabb declined to comment on whether Zhao shipped restricted computer components to China. However, he said, "Her business was in the business of selling computer parts internationally." A spokesman for the U.S. Commerce Department, which regulates exports of sensitive technology, said the agency would have no comment. This article can also be found at OhmyNews International, South Korea, Kansas City Star, MO, Belleville News-Democrat, IL, Jefferson City News Tribune, and The Associated Press | |