Chinese nationals charged with exporting Nvidia AI chips to China
The case shows that smuggling its chips "is a nonstarter," an Nvidia spokesperson said.
Court documents seen by the BBC allege the shipments included Nvidia's H100 graphics processing units (GPUs), which have become a key focus of US export controls aimed at stopping China purchasing the cutting-edge technology.
The DOJ alleged that over the last three years ALX Solutions, a company it said was run by Chuan Geng and Shiwei Yang, exported the chips from the US to China without the required licences.
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested and charged with illegally shipping millions of dollars' worth of powerful AI chips to China, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday.
Nvidia sells products to well-known partners who help to ensure that all sales comply with US export control rules, she added.
"Even relatively small exporters and shipments are subject to thorough review and scrutiny, and any diverted products would have no service, support or updates."
According to court documents, California-based ALX Solutions had three known employees: Mr Geng handled the firm's finances, Ms Yang was its secretary, while its chief executive was not named in the documents.
The DOJ said the three individuals exercised "full decision-making authority and shipment coordination" for the firm.
Mr Geng was a permanent resident of California, and Ms Yang, was an "illegal alien" who had overstayed her visa, a DOJ statement said.
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