October.08 (China Military News cited from Boston Herald and written by Thomas Grillo) -- U.S. Federal prosecutors charged three employees of Chitron Electronics Inc., a Waltham unit of the China-based components distributor, with conspiracy to export weapons and parts to the Chinese military.

Zhen Zhou Wu

Chinese nationals Zhen Zhou Wu, Yufeng Wei, Bo Li and Chitron Electronics and Shenzhen Chitron Electronics Co Ltd. face a 38-count indictment for conspiring to violate the U.S. Arms Export Control Act for allegedly exporting defense weapons and electronics, money laundering and filing false documents with the U.S. Department of Commerce, accor-ding to acting U.S. Attorney Michael Loucks.

Wu, Wei and both firms were also charged with exporting electronic components to the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, which “conducts research for the development and manufacture of tactical missiles, carrier rockets, space launch vehicles and satellites.”

Prosecutors also charge that Chitron exported the illegal weapons and electronic supplies to China without the required licenses from the State Department and Department of Commerce. The individual defendants each face a $1 million fine and up to 20 years in prison.

A message at Chitron's Waltham headquarters, said the office would be closed through Oct. 7.

Chitron's Web site

Chitron's Web site says the 13-year-old company was founded by Wu, a Harvard graduate, and boasts being one of the largest independent distributors of electronic components in China, with 250 employees worldwide and sales in excess of $25 million last year.