US Charges Four in Conspiracy to Illegally Export AI-Critical NVIDIA GPUs to China
Meta Description: Four individuals have been charged with conspiring to illegally export advanced NVIDIA GPUs to China, raising concerns about national security and AI dominance.
The United States Department of Justice has announced charges against two U.S. citizens and two nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to illegally export cutting-edge NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to China. The charges, announced by Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, underscore growing concerns about the illicit transfer of sensitive U.S. technology to a nation seeking global leadership in artificial intelligence (AI).
Those arrested include Hon Ning Ho, also known as “Mathew Ho,” a 34-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Tampa, Florida; Brian Curtis Raymond, a 46-year-old U.S. citizen from Huntsville, Alabama; Cham Li, known as “Tony Li,” a 38-year-old PRC national from San Leandro, California; and Jing Chen, also known as “Harry Chen,” a 45-year-old PRC national on a student visa residing in Tampa, Florida. Ho and Chen were apprehended on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, and appeared in court in the Middle District of Florida, while Raymond was arrested and appeared in the Northern District of Alabama. Li was arrested yesterday and is scheduled to appear today in the Northern District of California.
“The indictment unsealed yesterday alleges a deliberate and deceptive effort to transship controlled NVIDIA GPUs to China by falsifying paperwork, creating fake contracts, and misleading U.S. authorities,” stated Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is committed to disrupting these kinds of black markets of sensitive U.S. technologies and holding accountable those who participate in this illicit trade.” Kehoe added that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is “firmly committed to safeguarding our country’s national security,” praising the investigative work of law enforcement partners.
The case unfolds against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical competition, with the PRC openly aiming to become the world leader in AI by 2030. According to the indictment, China intends to leverage AI for military modernization, including the development and testing of weapons of mass destruction and the deployment of advanced surveillance technologies. To achieve these goals, the PRC is actively seeking access to cutting-edge U.S. technology, particularly NVIDIA GPUs. In response, the Department of Commerce implemented new license requirements for the export of these technologies to the PRC beginning in October 2022.
The alleged conspiracy, spanning from September 2023 to November 2025, involved circumventing these export controls by illegally shipping advanced GPUs to China through Malaysia and Thailand. The conspirators reportedly utilized Janford Realtor, LLC—a Tampa-based company owned and controlled by Ho and Li—as a front for purchasing and exporting the controlled GPUs. Despite its name, authorities assert that Janford Realtor, LLC was not involved in any legitimate real estate transactions. Raymond, operating through his Alabama-based electronics company, allegedly supplied NVIDIA GPUs to Ho and others for illicit export.
The indictment details four attempted exports of NVIDIA GPUs to China. The first two shipments, occurring between October 2024 and January 2025, successfully delivered 400 NVIDIA A100 GPUs to the PRC. Subsequent attempts to export ten Hewlett Packard Enterprises supercomputers containing NVIDIA H100 GPUs and 50 separate NVIDIA H200 GPUs were disrupted by law enforcement intervention. Crucially, the conspirators allegedly never sought or obtained the required export licenses, instead resorting to deceptive practices regarding the GPUs’ intended destination. The scheme was allegedly funded by over $3.89 million in wire transfers originating from the PRC.
The United States intends to seek forfeiture of the 50 NVIDIA H200 GPUs, considered property intended for unlawful export.
Here’s a breakdown of the charges against each defendant:
| Name and Nationality | Age and Residence | Charges | Max. Term of Imprisonment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hon Ning Ho | 34, Tampa, FL | Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (4 counts), smuggling (3 counts), conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering (9 counts) | 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count |
| Brian Curtis Raymond | 46, Huntsville, AL | Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (2 counts), smuggling (1 count), conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering (7 counts) | 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count |
| Cham Li | 38, San Leandro, CA | Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (1 count), smuggling (1 count), and conspiracy to commit money laundering | 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count |
| Jing Chen | 45, Tampa, FL | Conspiracy to violate Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), ECRA violations (1 count), smuggling (1 count), and conspiracy to commit money laundering | 20 years per ECRA violation; 10 years per smuggling count; and 20 years per money laundering count |
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security. The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph K. Ruddy and Lindsey N. Schmidt of the Middle District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
It is important to remember that an indictment represents an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to protect U.S. national security in the face of increasingly sophisticated attempts to acquire sensitive technologies.
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