Chinese Man Indicted for Attempting to Illegally Export Thermal Imaging Cameras
Canadian Authorities Arrested Him in Toronto

DAYTON—A federal grand jury here has indicted Hing Shing Lau, also known as Victor Lau, a foreign national living in Hong Kong, Peoples Republic of China, charging him with trying to buy 12 infrared thermal imaging cameras from a Dayton-area company in order to illegally export the cameras to Hong Kong and China.

Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the indictment returned yesterday.

The indictment alleges that Lau tried to buy 12 thermal imaging cameras manufactured in Texas by contacting a company in the Dayton area. On three occasions, he wired transferred a total of $39,514 from Hong Kong to the U.S. as partial payment for the cameras.

The U.S. Department of Commerce controls export of these thermal imaging cameras to Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China for national security and regional stability reasons because of the cameras’ potential use in a wide variety of civilian and military applications, including: unmanned vehicle payloads, weapon sights, security and surveillance products, and others.

The indictment charges Lau with two counts of violating export control laws, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1 million, and four counts of money laundering. Each count is punishable by 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000.

FBI agents began investigating Lau in August 2008 after Lau called a businessman in the Dayton area with whom he had done business in the past and asked if he could sell him between 10 and 12 of the infrared/thermal imaging devices. The businessman told Lau he did not have the necessary export licenses.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the complaint with which Lau was originally charged, Lau continued to contact the businessman by phone and e-mail in an attempt to buy the cameras, finally arranging to meet the businessman in Toronto to take delivery of the cameras. Canadian Immigration Authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Lau on June 3 at the Toronto International Airport pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued by U.S. authorities. At that time he had an additional $30,000 on his person which was believed destined for a final payment on the devices.

“Our office is currently taking the necessary steps to extradite Lau to the U.S. to face charges,” Lockhart said.

Lockhart commended the investigation by FBI agents with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian immigration authorities, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Keller who is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.