Greg Lui, also known as Yiu Kong Lui, made headlines in early October 2026 after federal authorities arrested him on serious national security charges. The 38-year-old San Gabriel, California, resident and owner of Earthmade Computer Inc. is accused of orchestrating a scheme to smuggle more than $300 million worth of export-controlled high-end computer servers to China. These servers contained U.S.-made graphics processing units (GPUs) commonly used for advanced computing applications that the Justice Department now refers to as Super Intelligence.
Interest in his personal background, including questions about ethnicity, has circulated online alongside the case details. Here’s a clear look at the verified facts available as of early October 2026.
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Who Is Greg Lui and the Core of the DOJ Case?
Greg Lui ran Earthmade Computer Inc., a technology company based in the City of Industry, California. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against him on September 29, 2026. Agents arrested him on October 1, 2026.
Prosecutors allege that between 2023 and 2024, Lui and others used the company to purchase restricted servers from U.S. manufacturers and route them through third countries to avoid licensing requirements. The indictment claims the true destination was China.
Key points from the DOJ announcement include:
- The servers contained Nvidia GPUs designed for high-performance computing.
- Earthmade allegedly received more than $176 million from two Malaysia-based companies between January and October 2024 as part of the scheme.
- False paperwork was used to misrepresent the end users and destinations.
Lui faces charges of conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act and Export Administration Regulations, outbound smuggling, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
How the Alleged Smuggling Operation Worked
Federal authorities describe a classic transshipment strategy. Servers were ordered in the United States under the claim that they were headed to destinations that did not require special export licenses. Shipments then moved to Malaysia or Singapore before continuing to China.
One specific example cited involves a January 2024 purchase order for 27 servers valued at roughly $7.6 million that traveled from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur. Prosecutors say Lui knew the ultimate buyers were in China. The FBI has described the operation as involving the sale of American technology that could strengthen an adversary’s capabilities.
If convicted on all counts, the statutory maximum penalties add up to decades in prison—up to 20 years for the export-control conspiracy, 20 years for the money-laundering conspiracy, and 10 years for smuggling. Charge Description Max Potential Sentence Conspiracy to violate export controls Evading U.S. licensing rules on advanced servers 20 years Outbound smuggling Shipping restricted goods without authorization 10 years Money laundering conspiracy Handling proceeds from the alleged scheme 20 years
What Public Records Reveal About Greg Lui’s Background and Ethnicity
Public documents and major news reports identify Lui primarily by name, age (38), residence in San Gabriel, and his role as CEO and registered agent of Earthmade. His alias, Yiu Kong Lui, appears consistently in court filings and official statements.
Reliable sources, including the Department of Justice indictment and coverage from outlets such as the DOJ press release, The Guardian, and others, do not state his place of birth, citizenship details beyond his California residence, or formal ethnic classification. Some online commentary has speculated about Chinese heritage based on the name and the nature of the charges, but no official confirmation appears in the court records or primary reporting.
Earlier career details mentioned in secondary coverage note prior work in the restaurant industry (including a Sichuan-style hot pot restaurant) before entering technology. No high school, college, or detailed family background has been publicly verified in connection with the case.
In short, ethnicity is not a documented element of the legal proceedings. Focusing on it risks shifting attention away from the concrete allegations of export violations and national security concerns that form the basis of the indictment.
Legal Outlook and Broader Context
The case fits into a larger pattern of U.S. enforcement actions aimed at preventing advanced computing hardware from reaching China without proper authorization. Officials from the Justice Department, FBI, and Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security have emphasized the national security stakes.
Lui was expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles shortly after his arrest. Prosecutors have highlighted the scale of the alleged transfers and the use of third-country routing as deliberate efforts to conceal the end destination.
As of October 3, 2026, the matter remains at the early stages. Court proceedings will determine the strength of the evidence and any defenses raised.
Conclusion
Greg Lui’s arrest underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to control the flow of sensitive technology. While questions about his ethnicity have appeared in public discussion, official records provide no definitive statement on that point. The verifiable information centers on the charges, the alleged $300 million scheme, the companies involved, and the legal process now underway. Readers seeking the most current updates on this developing story can also check reliable news aggregators and official government releases, including resources available at news.ashutoshpreparatoryschool.com for broader context on related national security reporting. The case will continue to unfold in federal court, where the facts will be tested.