California tech executive indicted for alleged $300 million NVIDIA GPU smuggling to China
Greg Lui, owner of Earthmade Computer Inc., was indicted on October 1, 2026 for allegedly exporting over $300 million of NVIDIA GPUs—including A100, H100, RTX 4090 and RTX 5090—to China via falsified paperwork and shipments through Malaysia and Singapore. The indictment alleges multiple transactions, such as a purchase of 27 servers in January 2024, and payments exceeding $176 million from Malaysian shipping firms. Lui faces three felony counts with maximum prison terms of up to 20 years each.
Why it matters
The case highlights heightened U.S. enforcement of export controls on advanced AI chips, potentially increasing compliance scrutiny for NVIDIA and its supply chain, as noted by analysts referencing the indictment.
Key facts
- 1The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on October 1, 2026. tweaktown.com
- 2Prosecutors allege the scheme involved more than $300 million worth of NVIDIA GPUs. tweaktown.com
- 3One transaction involved 27 servers purchased for approximately US$7.6 million in January 2024. tweaktown.com
- 4Earthmade Computer received more than US$176 million from two Malaysian shipping companies during 2024. tweaktown.com
- 5The indictment names NVIDIA A100, H100, GeForce RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 GPUs. tweaktown.com
- 6Lui faces three counts, each carrying a maximum prison term of 20 years for two counts and 10 years for the smuggling count. tweaktown.com
Open questions
- Exact dollar amount of the 27‑server purchase: US$7.6 million (material 1) versus US$7,614,000 (material 2).
Summary written by AlphAI from 2 of 2 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.