Shenghua Wen, 42, of Ontario, California, United States is a citizen of China. He is accused of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
As a federal law, the IEEPA authorizes the U.S. president to regulate international commerce after declaring a national emergency in response to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the country which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the country. It was signed on December 28, 1977 by the country’s 39th president Jimmy Carter.
In 2022, Wen was instructed by two North Korean government officials to buy and smuggle firearms, sensitive technology and other goods from the U.S. to North Korea via China. In 2023, he shipped at least three containers of firearms out of the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California to China en route to their ultimate destination in North Korea at the direction of North Korean government officials.
Shenghua Wen
Before entering the U.S., Wen went to the embassy of North Korea in China where he met with North Korean government officials. During the meeting, the North Korean government officials directed him to procure goods on behalf of North Korea.
In 2012, Wen entered the U.S. on a student visa and after his visa expired in December 2013, he remained in the country. Through intermediaries, one of his North Korean contracts sent him money, which he used to buy a firearms business in Houston, Texas, USA in May 2023.
Wen drove the firearms from Texas to California where he arranged for them to be shipped. He falsely reported his weapons shipments to U.S. officials that it contained a refrigerator.
One of Wen’s weapons shipments left the Port of Long Beach in December 2023. After arriving in Hong Kong in January 2024, the shipment was transported from Hong Kong to Nampo, North Korea.
At the direction of North Korean officials, Wen bought approximately 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition in September 2024, which he intended to ship to North Korea. He also obtained sensitive technology that he intended to send to the country.
On August 14, 2024, law enforcement officers went to Wen’s residence in Ontario and seized two devices that he intended to send to North Korea for military use. On September 6, 2024, they seized approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that he obtained to send to the country.
On December 3, 2024, Wen was arrested. On June 9, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count each of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and conspiracy to violate the IEEPA.
On August 18, 2025, Wen will be sentenced. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the count of violating the IEEPA.
CONAN Daily 