Man gets 10 years for tech export to China

LOS ANGELES, April 22 (UPI) -- A Chinese citizen has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating export laws by trying to steal sensitive technical information for his native country.

A U.S. district judge gave Tai Mak a sentence longer than the 6 1/2 years recommended in his probation report because of the sensitive information he tried to export, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Mak was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in 2005 just before he boarded a plane for China. Investigators said he was carrying a disc with encrypted information about U.S. naval technology.

The information was not classified.

Mak pleaded guilty last year. His wife received three years probation and his son time served for their role in the illegal export attempt. Both are awaiting deportation.

Chi Mak, Tai's brother, was sentenced to 24 years in prison last month. Investigators say that Chi Mak, a U.S. citizen who worked at a Navy contractor, orchestrated the illegal export of technology. His wife was sentenced to three years.