US, Taiwan Citizen Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Ship Defense Goods to Iran

En-Wei Eric Chang, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Taiwan, pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to conspiracy to export defense materials to Iran.

From 2002 to 2003, DOJ said Chang worked with co-conspirator David Chu to ship items on the U.S. Munitions List to Iran without a license. Chu, who pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme and was sentenced in 2004 to two years in prison, had a professional relationship with an Iranian businessperson and was the sole point of contact with that person, said a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

In January 2002, the unnamed businessperson asked Chu to research satellite imagery dealers, leading Chu to ask Chang to "facilitate this request," DOJ said. Chang reached out to a Maryland corporation to "acquire high-definition satellite space images of Tehran, Iran for export" to Iran. An undercover agent in Maryland pretending to be a defense contractor responded to the request and told Chang that if the end use is in Iran, sending the images would violate U.S. export control laws.

Chang and the agent "communicated over several months regarding the status of the satellite images order" and about quotes for "cavity-backed spiral antennas with military applications." DOJ said Chang "kept in regular contact" with the agent, requesting pricing information on various export-controlled items, including an "anti-submarine and surveillance radar system for installation on helicopters and airplanes; military-grade night-vision goggles for use by pilots; helicopters and helicopter engines; ten handheld laser range-finders; and other military items."

DOJ said Chang, Chu and the undercover agent agreed to transfer the antennas to Guam, where Chu would then transfer them to Iran. Chu traveled to Guam in February 2003 and received the antennas from the undercover agent, placing them in his checked luggage for a flight from Guam to Taiwan. DOJ said Chu was arrested and authorities seized his luggage before he could board the plane.

DOJ said Chang remained at large until his arrest in April in Italy. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for conspiracy. Sentencing will take place on May 8.