Chi Mak

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Chi Mak (Chinese: 麥大志, pinyin: Mài Dàzhì) is a naturalized American citizen who worked as an engineer for California-based defense contractor Power Paragon, a part of L-3 Communications^[1]. In 2007, Mak was found guilty of conspiring to export sensitive defense technology to China.^[2]

Mak's defense was that he thought there was nothing improper about allowing the paper to leave the U.S. He had presented it at a 2004 international engineering conference.^[2] He had been briefed every year on regulations regarding documents designated "For Official Use Only" (FOUO)^[3] and items restricted by export controls. His defense argued that making the data accessible to scrutiny by the general public negated its military value and made it acceptable to transport outside the United States. The defense also argued that the data was in the public domain^{[4][5] [6]}.

The prosecution indicated that the data was nevertheless export-controlled and that it should not have been shared with foreign nationals without authorization.^[2]

Mak's brother and sister-in-law were apprehended by the FBI after boarding a flight to Hong Kong carrying three encrypted CD's which contained defense-related documents. [1] They, along with their son as well as Mak's wife, all pled guilty to related charges.

The IEEE presentations cited by prosecution in the amended indictment continue to be available on a world-wide basis[2][3]

On March 24, 2008; he was sentenced to 24 1/2 years in federal prison^[7].

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