A Macau resident has been convicted of trying to illegally export communications, encryption and GPS equipment used by the US military and NATO forces, the Department of Justice said Wednesday.

Chi Tong Kuok, also known as Edison Kuok, was convicted by a federal jury in San Diego, south of here, on Tuesday of trying to export defense articles to Macau and Hong Kong without a license, the department said in a statement.

Kuok, a Portuguese citizen who lives in Macau, was arrested in Atlanta in June 2009 following an operation which involved undercover agents of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

He was convicted of conspiring to export defense articles without a license, smuggling goods from the United States, money laundering and other charges.

The Justice Department did not mention the ultimate destination for the equipment Kuok was seeking, but Wired magazine quoted a government affidavit in the case as saying he was acting at the direction of Chinese officials.

"This conviction underscores the threat posed by illicit efforts to obtain sensitive US technology and the need for continued vigilance against such schemes," David Kris, assistant attorney general for national security, said.

"The military encryption technology at the heart of this conspiracy is controlled for good reason," Kris said.

"The United States is engaged in a daily cat and mouse game to keep sensitive technology from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm America or its allies," added Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary John Morton.

"The enforcement of arms export controls keeps America safe, and Kuok's arrest and conviction have done just that when sensitive encryption technology is not taken overseas by someone whose interests are not in line with those of the United States," Morton said.

According to court documents, Kuok contacted a company in Britain in 2006 to obtain components related to the VDC-300 data controller, a device made by a California defense contractor which is used by the US and NATO militaries to route data to and from tactical radios.

The Justice Department said the British company referred Kuok to the ICE, which carried out negotiations with him for more than two years through email.

It said Kuok also sought to obtain a PSN-13, a Global Positioning System device used by the US and NATO, and a PRC-148, a multi-band handheld radio system manufactured by Thales Communications that was originally designed for US Special Operations Command.

He also sought to obtain a CYZ-10, which is used by US and NATO forces to load encryption software into communication devices such as tactical radios to allow them to communicate securely.

Kuok also attempted to buy a KG-175 Taclane Encryptor, a General Dynamics device made under contract with the National Security Agency for use by the US military which encrypts Internet Protocol communications, it said.

Sentencing was set for August 23.

Kuok could face up to five years in prison for conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States and exporting defense articles without a license and up to 10 years for smuggling goods from the United States.

Attempted export of defense articles without a license is punishable by up to 10 years in prison while money laundering carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

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