Four Charged Over Illegal Export of Nvidia AI Chips to China
Four Charged in Scheme to Illegally Export Nvidia AI Chips to China
U.S. authorities have indicted two Americans and two Chinese nationals for allegedly smuggling advanced Nvidia artificial intelligence chips to China in violation of U.S. export controls, raising concerns over national security.
The Defendants
- Hon Ning “Mathew” Ho — a Tampa-based U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong
- Brian Curtis Raymond — of Huntsville, Alabama
- Cham “Tony” Li — a Chinese national living in California
- Jing “Harry” Chen — a Chinese national residing in Florida on a student visa
According to the Department of Justice, the four face charges including conspiracy, smuggling, and money laundering. Prosecutors say the operation spanned from September 2023 to November 2025.
How the Scheme Allegedly Worked
Investigators say the group used a shell company, Janford Realtor LLC—despite having no real estate activity—as a front to purchase and ship restricted Nvidia processors to China.
- Relied on falsified paperwork and fake contracts
- Allegedly deceived authorities to evade U.S. export controls
- Deliberately misrepresented the final destination of advanced processors
Shipments and Seizures
Authorities allege four separate attempts to export Nvidia GPUs:
- Two successful shipments between October 2024 and January 2025 delivered around 400 Nvidia A100 chips to China.
- Two additional shipments were intercepted, including 10 Hewlett Packard Enterprise supercomputers fitted with Nvidia H100 GPUs and 50 separate H200 GPUs.
Funding and Export Violations
The operation was allegedly financed through more than $3.8 million in wire transfers from China. None of the defendants obtained required export licenses, according to officials.
National Security Context
The indictment highlights efforts by China to obtain cutting-edge U.S. technology as part of broader ambitions to lead the world in AI development by 2030, including potential military applications.
Official Statements
“This case demonstrates our commitment to disrupting black markets for sensitive American technology and holding those involved accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe added, “Thanks to dedicated law enforcement work, these defendants who illegally exported vital technology will face justice.”
Timeline at a Glance
- September 2023 — Operation allegedly begins
- October 2024 to January 2025 — Two successful exports of approximately 400 Nvidia A100 chips
- Interceptions — Two shipments stopped: 10 HPE supercomputers with Nvidia H100 GPUs and 50 H200 GPUs
- November 2025 — Operation window allegedly ends
