Exporter of A-Devices to Israel Indicted : Orange County Man Charged With Selling Krytron ‘Triggers’

The owner of a small Huntington Beach electronics firm was indicted today by a Los Angeles federal grand jury on charges of illegally shipping to Israel sophisticated timing devices that can be used to trigger nuclear bombs.

Richard K. Smyth, 55, who operates Milco International Inc., was charged on 15 counts of violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and another 15 counts of making false statements to disguise the shipments.

Smyth began exporting the timing devices, called krytrons, in January, 1980, and over the subsequent two years sent about 800 of the devices to Israel, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. William F. Fahey.

Fahey said the shipments were made without first obtaining the required license or written approval of the State Department.

False Documentation

The indictment charges that Smyth prepared false documentation and submitted it to the U.S. government to circumvent the necessity of obtaining export licenses.

Officials of the Israeli Defense Ministry have acknowledged that they acquired krytrons from sources in the United States between 1979 and 1983 and said a stockpile of the devices exists there.

But the Israeli authorities denied using any of the krytrons as atomic triggering devices. Use has been limited to research and development projects involving conventional military weapons, lasers and medical equipment, officials in Tel Aviv said.

Smyth reportedly was in Europe with his family on a “business mixed with pleasure” trip and could not immediately be reached for comment.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years and a $100,000 fine on each export act violation, and five years and a $10,000 fine on each false statement count.