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CA Man Sentenced For Trying To Bring Surface To Air Missiles Into The
U.S. By Jim Douglas |
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May 16, 2011 - A Southern California man was sentenced
to 25 years in federal prison after being convicted on a
series of federal charges related to schemes to smuggle
many items into the United States, including
surface-to-air missiles designed to shoot down aircraft.
Last October, following a two-week trial, a federal jury
convicted Chen of five felony counts, conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, distribution of
cocaine, trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes
(approximately 800,000 cases of cigarettes), trafficking
in contraband cigarettes, and conspiracy to import
missile systems designed to destroy aircraft.
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?Mr. Chen was the first person in the nation to be indicted for
plotting to smuggle anti-aircraft missiles into the United
States after the 9/11 attacks,? said United States Attorney
Andr? Birotte Jr. ?The 25-year sentence imposed appropriately
reflects the severity of the threat this conspiracy posed to the
security of the United States.?
The case against Chen is the result of Operation Smoking Dragon,
an FBI-led undercover investigation into smuggling operations in
Southern California. Smoking Dragon and a related investigation
in New Jersey led to the indictment of 87 individuals on charges
related to international conspiracies to smuggle counterfeit
United States currency, drugs and other contraband into the
United States. Operation Smoking Dragon resulted in four
indictments and nearly three dozen convictions in Los Angeles.
Chen is the final defendant to be sentenced in relation to
Operation Smoking Dragon. ?Sentencing of Mr. Chen is the result of eight years of investigative work by agents and prosecutors assigned to the Smoking Dragon case. The defendant?s willingness to smuggle surface-to-air missiles into this country or anywhere is a frightening concept because there can be no confusion as to the purpose of such contraband?nor to the potentially horrific consequences for innocent people,? said Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles. |
In 2006, Chao Tung Wu, 51, of La Puente, appeared in United States
District Court and admitted that he conspired to smuggle, among other
things, Chinese-made QW-2 shoulder-fired missiles into the United
States. The guilty plea in relation to the missile is the first
conviction in the nation under an anti-terrorism statute that outlaws
the importation of missile systems designed to destroy aircraft.
Enacted in December 2004 as part of an intelligence reform package, the
statute carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years and the
possibility of life without parole in federal prison. That Chao Tung Wu,
died while pending sentencing and before Chen was brought to trial.
The evidence in the case showed that Chen and Wu met with an undercover
FBI agent and agreed to arrange the importation of shoulder-fired QW-2
missiles, as well as launch and operation hardware for the missiles,
from the People?s Republic of China. The missiles were never delivered
because Wu and Chen were arrested in 2005 before the deal was concluded.
?Recordings played during trial, of defendant [Chen] and Wu, included
discussions that they had engaged in a wide range of criminal activity,
including narcotics and counterfeit cigarette trafficking and shipping
vehicles to China in containers where documents fraudulently identified
their contents,? prosecutors wrote in papers filed in court prior to
today?s sentencing. ?It was undisputed that Wu never conducted any
legitimate business during the relevant period of time.? |
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