RALEIGH, N.C. — In a significant legal development, a North Carolina businessman has pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to illegally export military-applicable electronic devices to China without the necessary government license.
David C. Bohmerwald, aged 63 and the owner of Components Cooper Inc. based in Raleigh, entered his guilty plea on a count related to violations of the Export Control Reform Act. This plea was filed under the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle. Bohmerwald is tentatively scheduled for sentencing in mid-May and faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to federal authorities.
Court documents reveal that Bohmerwald purchased 100 accelerometers from a U.S. electronic company, intending to export these specialized devices to a Chinese company. Accelerometers, known for measuring vibration, tilt, and acceleration, hold crucial applications in sectors including aerospace and military technology, enhancing the accuracy of missile guidance and assessing munitions effects.
The scheme unraveled when the electronics company alerted law enforcement regarding Bohmerwald’s transaction. After he received the accelerometers, Bohmerwald attempted to ship parcels—including one directed to a Chinese business—through a shipping store. Federal agents seized the package, discovering the accelerometers inside.
In an attempt to evade scrutiny, Bohmerwald falsely claimed the package’s value was $100, despite its actual worth nearing $20,000. He later acknowledged to agents that he acquired the technology on behalf of a Chinese firm, fully aware of the existing export restrictions.
The disruption of this illegal exportation scheme has been hailed as a protective measure against the unauthorized use of sensitive technology. Officials from Homeland Security Investigations emphasized the importance of preventing such technologies from falling into adverse hands.
As the case progresses towards sentencing, legal representatives for Bohmerwald have not yet commented on the matter.
