SEATTLE, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- A Washington man allegedly tried to sell sensitive military and aerospace technology to China, possibly for use in the country's space program, documents show.
Charges unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle allege Lian Yang, 46, of Woodinville, Wash., tried to arrange the export of the highly sensitive technology, The Seattle Times reported.
Federal prosecutors at the arraignment, including the head of the terrorism and violent crime unit, declined to speak about the case, the newspaper said.
U.S. District Judge James Donohue ordered Yang held at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac pending a detention hearing.
An affidavit signed by an agent from the FBI's counterintelligence program said Yang negotiated with two undercover FBI agents to purchase 300 radiation-hardened semiconductors used by the military in satellites for $700,000.
Yang and unnamed "co-conspirators" deposited a $60,000 down payment in an account set up by the agents, the complaint alleges.
He was arrested Saturday while dropping off an additional payment of $20,000, the affidavit said.
Yang is set to appear at a preliminary hearing Dec. 20. UPI
