Yi-Chi Shih, 64, an electrical engineer was convicted on 18 federal charges last week

A former UCLA professor faces up to 219 years behind bars after being found guilty of illegally obtaining microchips that could be used in missiles and fighter jets and exporting them to China.

Yi-Chi Shih, 64, an electrical engineer was convicted on 18 federal charges last week including mail fraud, wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, making false statements to a government agency and conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information.

His co-defendant—Kiet Ahn Mai from Pasadena, California pleaded guilty to smuggling charges linked to the plan in December.

Shih acquired monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) hardware from an unnamed company, by posing as a customer.

The company supplies the Air Force, Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

He then shipped the hardware to a Chinese company called Chengdu GaStone Technology (CGTC), where he had previously served as president.

The firm was in the process of building its own MMICs factory, Department of Justice said.

Technology used in the hardware cannot be exported without authorization from the Commerce department due to their application in military operations.

MMICs are used for missiles, guidance systems, electronic warfare, radar and in fighter jets.

Shih was found guilty of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, mail fraud, wire fraud, false tax returns, false statements to a government agency and conspiracy to commit cybertheft following a seven-week trial.

A date for his sentencing has not yet been set.

He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 219 years in federal prison.

'The Department's China Initiative is focused on preventing and prosecuting thefts of American technology and intellectual property for the benefit of China,' said Assistant Attorney General Demers.

Shih acquired monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) hardware from an unnamed company, by posing as customer. The company supplies the Air Force, Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

'The defendant has been found guilty of conspiring to export sensitive semiconductor chips with military applications to China.

'I would like to thank the prosecutors and agents, including those from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, for theirs efforts in this successful investigation and prosecution.'

'This defendant schemed to export to China semiconductors with military and civilian uses, then he lied about it to federal authorities and failed to report income generated by the scheme on his tax returns,' said United States Attorney Nick Hanna.

'My office will enforce laws that protect our nation's intellectual property from being used to benefit foreign adversaries who may compromise our national security.'

'The FBI is committed to protecting institutions from adversaries who seek to steal sensitive American technology under the guise of research,' said Assistant Director in Charge Delacourt.

'We will continue to work collaboratively with our federal partners to identify and hold accountable individuals who plunder our research or intellectual property at the expense of the American people and our national security.'