Ohio man admits illegal military export shipment

CLEVELAND – A former NASA employee in Ohio has pleaded guilty to illegally shipping night-vision rifle scope equipment to South Korean companies.

Sixty-six-year-old Kue Sang Chun of Avon Lake entered the plea Thursday to two counts in Cleveland federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for April 14.

He admits exporting defense items on the U.S. munitions list without federal approval. He also admitted making a false individual income tax return.

The Korean-born U.S. citizen is a former employee at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Authorities say he wasn't accused of taking technology from the center.

Spokesman Mike Tobin with the U.S. attorney's office says Chun likely will face a sentence of two years to 2½ years in prison.