The owner of a California-based military contractor was arrested for violating federal export laws for exporting sensitive US technology to countries such as China.
Joe Sery, 77, who ran Tungsten Heavy Powder & Parts (Tungsten Parts), was charged with “intentionally and deliberately” exporting military information, including data and drawings, to China and India without US approval. I did. , The Ministry of Justice announced on March 5th.
The company supplies tungsten debris, rare metals, and weapon components to the US military under contract.
The prosecution has identified Dror Sery, a 70-year-old brother who is a dual citizen of Israel and South Africa, as a conspirator to the project. Arrest warrants have been issued for a man who is a fugitive and is believed to live in Israel.
The brothers allegedly created a non-company email to secretly access confidential documents from the Tungsten Parts system, and Dror Sery now has full access to that system. According to a US law firm, the two then emailed a sensitive drafting when Dror was in India and China.
Under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, it is illegal to transfer data, goods, and services designated as defense items outside the United States without a license, or to disclose such technical data to foreigners in the United States. I consider it to be. Violators can face up to 20 years in prison and a $ 1 million fine.
Tungsten Parts has signed contracts with multiple aerospace and defense companies from 2016 to 2019, including the construction of advanced high-speed response weapons, 155mm bimodal warheads, R9E warheads, and 81mm cowling cones. Is working on. The prosecutor said.
The company’s official website boasted that it included top five contractors in the American defense industry, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and General Dynamics. He also mentioned his involvement in the Pentagon project to produce rocket-boosted air-launch-to-air high-speed response weapon missiles, which are hypersonic weapons that help the United States gain an edge over China and Russia.
Tungsten Parts is facing a proceeding from a former employee of a San Diego facility. In this case, Dror Sery alleges that he sent an email requesting that the customer’s intellectual property be sent to a Chinese company that manufactures balancing machines.
Employees accused Tungsten Parts of sending technical drawings to a China-based supplier after removing or blocking markings indicating export control.
Tungsten Parts did not immediately respond to the Epoch Times request for comment on the allegations.
“These brothers ignored important regulations designed to keep sensitive information out of the hands of those who harm the United States,” said Randy Grossman, a lawyer in the United States, according to the indictment. ..
Land Security Investigation San Diego Special Agent Chad Plants said the investigative agency “prevents protected military technology and weapons from being used by foreign actors against fighters and allies on the battlefield.” He said he promised that.
“This arrest sends a clear message that those entrusted with our military technology and weapons are responsible for their protection,” he said.
Last year, Tungsten Heavy Powder, Inc. In the name of, the company has agreed to pay $ 5.6 million to resolve allegations that it had falsely certified product materials from the United States when it actually came from China.
The prosecution said Tungsten Parts agreed to support the investigation.
Joe Serry will appear in court on Monday.
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