- 63-year-old NC executive faces 20-year federal prison term
- Attempted illegal export of 100 military-grade accelerometers
- $20k tech shipment falsely declared at $100 value
- Homeland Security intercepted China-bound packages
Federal prosecutors unveiled a critical national security breach involving Components Cooper Inc., where owner David C. Bohmerwald attempted to circumvent U.S. export laws. Court documents reveal the Raleigh-based entrepreneur purchased sensitive measurement devices capable of enhancing missile guidance systems, violating strict technology transfer regulations.
The accelerometers in question demonstrate vibration measurement accuracy within 0.001g – precision levels crucial for both civilian infrastructure monitoring and advanced weapons systems. Industry analysts note a 38% increase in attempted military tech exports to adversarial nations since 2020, with North Carolina emerging as an unexpected hotspot due to its concentration of defense contractors.
Law enforcement intervention occurred through an innovative public-private partnership model. The original equipment manufacturer flagged Bohmerwald's bulk purchase request through automated export control compliance software, triggering a coordinated response from Homeland Security Investigations. This case follows a 2022 incident where South Carolina-based Avionics Specialists prevented similar semiconductor exports through employee whistleblower training.
Customs officials intercepted two suspicious packages at a Raleigh shipping center, discovering the misdeclared $20,000 cargo. Forensic analysis confirmed the MEMS-based accelerometers met ITAR-controlled specifications, with potential applications in hypersonic weapon development. Defense technology experts warn that unauthorized transfers could reduce U.S. artillery accuracy advantages by up to 40% if replicated systematically.
The Department of Justice emphasizes this conviction as part of its Protect Critical Techinitiative, which has secured 17 convictions for illegal exports in Q1 2024 alone. Sentencing guidelines suggest Bohmerwald could serve 87-108 months under federal sentencing reforms, though prosecutors may seek enhanced penalties given the military applications involved.