First US prosecution for illegal software export

A California resident who pleaded guilty to providing China with restricted military software is the first person to be successfully prosecuted under new laws.

Xiaodong Sheldon Meng was accused of installing US Navy simulation software, used to train military fighter pilots, on computers at the Peoples' Republic of China Navy Research Centre.

The 42-year-old from Cupertino, California, who was a former Beijing resident, made a plea agreement with the US Department of Justice before pleading guilty.

Meng will be sentenced on January 23 2008 in the San Jose District Court.

Following his plea bargain, he faces a maximum two-year prison sentence and a US$500,000 fine.

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