Press Release
DEFENDANT CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL EXPORT OF ROCKET TECHNOLOGY TO SOUTH KOREA
April 29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, Amie R. Tanchak, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and John Corbett, Special Agent in Charge, NASA OIG, Office of Criminal Investigations, announced the Indictment of defendant Juwan Yun, a/k/a "Jw Yun," on charges of attempting to export and exporting RD-180 Rocket Propulsion System and technology to the Republic of South Korea without a license. An arraignment has been scheduled for April30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow in Fort Lauderdale.
Specifically, Yun is charged in the six count Indictment with attempting to export defense articles without a license, and brokering defense articles designated on the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and the Missile Technology Control Regime Annex, without first having registered and obtained a license from the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act ("AECA"), Title 22, United States Code, Section 2778; the Missile Technology Control Regime, Title 22, United States Code, Sections 2797 and 2797a; and the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 120-130.
The Indictment alleges that as early as December 2008, Yun tried to acquire RD 180 rocket propulsion systems, engines and related technology for subsequent sale and delivery the Republic of South Korea. These items are classified as defense articles under the USML.
According to an affidavit previously filed with the court in support of the criminal complaint, Yun was previously convicted of a conspiracy to export Sarin gas, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act, Title 22, United States Code, Section 2778, and was sentenced to 39 months in prison. As a result of this conviction, Yun was debarred by the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and is prohibited from engaging in any export or brokering activities involving defense articles.
If convicted of all charges, Yun faces a maximum term of up to 60 years in prison.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and NASA OIG, Office of Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Walleisa.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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