BAKERSFIELD - One of three men accused of trying to ship stolen U.S. military equipment and defense secrets to Yemen pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday.

Amen Ahmed Ali, 56, of Bakersfield faces felony charges including conspiracy to possess and transmit defense information and attempted unlawful export of defense articles. He was being held without bail Friday.

The investigation began more than two years ago after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials tipped off the FBI about a shipment of chemical suits and body armor from Long Beach to Yemen. The shipment was traced to Ibrahim Omer, 40, of Fort Worth, Texas, officials said.

Omer and Ali allegedly planned to send the items to Yemen, which is illegal without authorization from the State Department, federal prosecutors said.

During a court appearance in Shreveport, La., Omer agreed Friday to return to Northern California to face criminal charges.

A third man, Mohamed Rahimi, 62, of Bakersfield, was indicted Aug. 31 for traveling to Yemen to broker the sale of the military equipment. He remains at large.

The men, who are related to each other, were born in Yemen but are now U.S. citizens, authorities said.

Ali's lawyer, Loren Kleier, called his client a prominent member of his community and suggested he was set up by federal agents.

"They get people to go out and attempt to do things they otherwise would not do," Kleier said outside court.

Ali was arrested at his cigarette shop in Bakersfield about 110 miles north of Los Angeles on Thursday. Omer was arrested in Bossier City, La.

If convicted, the men could face up to 10 years in prison for each count and more than $1 million fines.