Irvine : 2 Men Plead Not Guilty to Illegal Export Charges
Two Orange County men pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges that they illegally exported high-tech computer equipment to China through Hong Kong.
Louis Luk, 29, and Jonas Leung, 32, both of Irvine, were ordered to return to federal court in Los Angeles for trial March 18 on a total of 23 counts, including allegations they falsely stated the cargo’s destination to be Hong Kong.
Assistant U.S. Atty. William Fahey said about $200,000 worth of computer equipment, mostly printed circuit boards, actually made it to China starting in 1983 through a Hong Kong couple, James Ng and Lilly Wan, who have been named in an arrest warrant.
Fahey said China is on a U.S. government list of countries for which exporters must obtain special federal approval.
Leung, who is free on $50,000 bail, denied all seven counts against him. Luk, who remained in custody, faces 16 counts. Leung’s attorney, William Wong, declined comment, saying he is not yet familiar with the case.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
