SAN JOSE - United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan announced that a federal grand jury in San Jose yesterday indicted Yueqiang Chen, a.k.a. Bill Chen, for exporting items without a license for use in the design, development, production, and use of missiles to an end-user in China. Mr. Chen is the General Manager and Chief Representative of Data Physics Corporation in China. Data Physics is a San Jose, California, company engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling signal processing equipment for use in noise and vibration testing, including a line of electro-dynamic shakers, vibration controllers, and dynamic signal analyzers. These items are utilized to test missile vibration.

These charges are the result of an investigation by Special Agents from the Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.

"This indictment demonstrates our continuing commitment to preventing the illegal and unlicensed export of military technology abroad," said U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan.

This seems pretty straight up to me. And following are the details of what he was caught doing:

 Bill Chen, 45, of San Jose, allegedly exported vibration test and shaker equipment, without a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, to an end-user in China while knowing that such items would be used in the design, development, production, and use of missiles. According to the indictment, on five different occasions, Mr. Chen, a permanent resident alien of the U.S., knowingly violated Export Administration Regulations as follows:

*On or about January 22, 2003, Chen exported one model 421.20 Spherical Coupling and one model 42 3.20 Spherical Coupling

*On or about April 2, 2003, Chen exported two M1216V shaker systems

*On or about February 10, 2005, Chen exported one DMA4020E/2016EVH shaker system

*On or about June 23, 2005, Chen exported one DMA4020E/2016EVH shaker system, and,

*On or about July 3, 2005, Chen exported one model 421.20 Spherical Coupling and one model 42 3.20 Spherical Coupling

An affidavit filed in connection with a criminal complaint also alleges that the defendant willfully and knowingly exported the items to the "3rd Academy" in China, an entity engaged in the research, design, development, and production of cruise missiles. The complaint also alleges that the defendant used the false end-user name of "27th Locomotive Factory" to disguise the true destination of the exports.(my emphasis added)

I am left scratching my head here and you'd think for all the trouble of the Grand Jury and the US Attorneys office and probably thousands upon thousands of dollars spent...we'd have an explanation on why this case was dropped.

Suppose Kevin Ryan just ticked off the Chinese government? Perhaps time had to pass before the DOJ could let this case ride off slowly into the sunset. Thoughts?

Here's some previous commentaries involving Kevin Ryan to refresh memories:

USAs: Disruption of Corruption Investigation via Committee? Chiara and Ryan

USDOJ Document Dump - Kevin Ryan

The Politics of Justice