Man pleads guilty to illegal exports

A native of China who became a naturalized U.S. citizen has pleaded guilty to federal charges of exporting thermal-imaging cameras to the People’s Republic of China without necessary licenses, the U.S. attorney’s office announced Wednesday.

Tah Wei Chao, 52, who pleaded guilty to three felony counts, last fall bought three thermal-imaging cameras, which allow the user to see things not visible to the naked eye.

He arranged to have them shipped, through a San Gabriel printing company, to the People’s Republic of China without proper licenses, according to prosecutors.

The export of thermal-imaging cameras is controlled by the Department of Commerce because the devices have military as well as civilian applications.

In March, Chao ordered 10 more cameras despite being warned by the supplier that he needed an export license to move the cameras out of the U.S.

Chao and a Chinese national, Zhi Yong Guo, 49, were arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after authorities found 10 cameras hidden in suitcases headed for China in April.

Both men live in Beijing, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Chao pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and two counts of exporting or attempting to export restricted items -- the 10 cameras in the luggage as well as three cameras shipped to China last October.

He will be sentenced Oct. 6. He faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.

Guo faces two charges and is scheduled to go to trial in federal court Aug. 19.

-- Carla Hall