CHINESE VISA OVERSTAYER GETS 8 YEARS FOR SHIPPING GUNS TO NORTH KOREA; DOJ, ICE DETAIL EXPORT-CONTROL BUST VIA LONG BEACH

Shenghua Wen, a Chinese national who overstayed a student visa, was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate U.S. export controls and acting as an agent of a foreign government. DOJ and ICE say Wen shipped firearms, ammunition, and military-grade devices from California—concealed in containers routed through Long Beach and Hong Kong—to North Korea, funded by $2 million from Pyongyang contacts. Agents seized specialized equipment and 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammo; messages showed coordination and use of straw buyers plus an armory and FFL in a partner’s name to evade detection. The case underscores national-security risks tied to visa overstays and covert procurement networks.