Taiwanese man pleads guilty to illegal U.S. export attempts
Ko-Suen Moo, a Taiwanese citizen, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to serving as a covert agent for China and for conspiring to illegal obtain and ship U.S. military hardware to China.
“The fact that this individual was plotting to purchase advanced U.S. cruise missiles for a foreign government is truly alarming,” said Julie L. Myers, assistant secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in a statement. “This case demonstrates, in the clearest terms possible, the need to protect sensitive U.S. technology from illegal foreign acquisition.”
Moo also tried to obtain an F-16 aircraft engine, Blackhawk helicopter engines, and air-to-air missiles.
After his arrest by federal agents, Moo talked to two inmates at the detention center about his ability to bribe his way out of jail and obtain dismissal of the charges.
U.S. District Court Judge Donald Graham has not yet scheduled Moo’s sentencing. Moo faces a maximum jail time of five years on the conspiracy count, a maximum of 10 years on the charge for failing to register as a foreign agent, and 15 years on the bribery account. He also faces up to $2 million in fines, and has agreed to forfeit his interest in about $350,000 that was seized during the investigation of the case.