Justice Dept Charges Four in AI Chip Export Plot to China
Four Men Charged in Alleged AI Chip Export Scheme to China
The Justice Department has charged four individuals in the United States, including two Chinese nationals and two Americans, with conspiring to illegally export advanced Nvidia artificial intelligence chips to China. Among those arrested are Cham Li, 38, of California; Jing Chen, 45, in Florida on a student visa; Hon Ning Ho, 34, from Florida; and Brian Curtis Raymond, 46, of Alabama.
Those Charged
- Cham Li, 38, California
- Jing Chen, 45, Florida (on a student visa)
- Hon Ning Ho, 34, Florida
- Brian Curtis Raymond, 46, Alabama
Alleged Scheme
According to officials, the men allegedly worked together to bypass U.S. export laws by shipping Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) to China via third countries such as Malaysia and Thailand. The Justice Department claims the group deliberately falsified documents, created fraudulent contracts, and misled authorities in efforts to send controlled technology abroad.
Funding and Shipments
- Investigators say the suspects received close to $4 million from China to support the operation.
- Nearly 400 Nvidia A100 GPUs were allegedly exported to China between October 2024 and January 2025 in two separate shipments.
- Law enforcement intervened to halt two additional shipments that were never completed.
Charges and Potential Penalties
Despite knowing that legal permits were required for these exports, none of the accused sought or acquired any licenses, the department stated. The charges brought against them include violations of the Export Control Reform Act and money laundering, each carrying maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.
Broader Context
The Justice Department highlighted growing concerns over China’s efforts to obtain advanced U.S. technology as it seeks to become a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2030. Meanwhile, Nvidia announced this week it earned $31.9 billion in profit on record quarterly revenue of $57 billion.
Legal Representation
The department has not indicated whether the defendants currently have legal representation.
