A British man has been indicted within the US for allegedly attempting to smuggle “delicate American navy know-how” to China, together with missiles, air defence radar and drones.
John Miller, 63, and a Chinese language man, Cui Guanghai, are needed by the FBI on prices regarding conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling and violations of the Arms Management Act.
Mr Miller, a everlasting US resident, and Mr Cui, 43, have been each arrested in Serbia. They continue to be there and will now face extradition to the US.
The Overseas Workplace has confirmed it’s offering consular help to a British nationwide following his arrest in April and it’s “in contact with the native authorities and his household”.
Court docket paperwork recommend the 2 males mentioned methods of exporting a tool that could possibly be used for encryption and decryption. They’re alleged to have paid a $10,000 (£7,430) deposit for the gear.
Mr Miller and Mr Cui are additionally accused of attempting to “harass” an anti-Chinese language authorities protester, which included putting in a monitoring system on their automotive and slashing their tyres.
Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche accused the pair of a “blatant assault” on US nationwide safety and its democratic values.
He added: “This Justice Division is not going to tolerate international repression on US soil, nor will we permit hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence programs.”
If discovered responsible, Mr Miller may resist 20 years in jail for violation of the Arms Export Management Act, and 10 years for smuggling.
Court docket paperwork element how the lads allegedly solicited the procurement of US defence articles, together with missiles, air defence radar, drones and cryptographic gadgets for illegal export to China.
Mr Cui and Mr Miller are mentioned to have mentioned with two people – recognized as “Particular person 5” and “Particular person 6” in courtroom paperwork – find out how to export a cryptographic system from the US to China.
Objects the lads allegedly mentioned utilizing to smuggle the know-how embrace small electronics, a blender and a motor starter.
The indictment additionally alleges the pair enlisted two people within the US to hold out a plot that may have prevented a sufferer from protesting towards Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s attendance on the Asia Pacific Financial Co-operation (Apec) summit held in Los Angeles in November 2023.
Mr Miller and Mr Cui have been unaware that these two people – recognized in courtroom paperwork as “Particular person 1” and “Particular person 2” – have been appearing on the path of the FBI.
“The indictment alleges that Chinese language international actors focused a sufferer in our nation as a result of he criticised the Chinese language authorities and its president,” mentioned US Legal professional Invoice Essayli for the Central District of California.
“My workplace will proceed to make use of all authorized strategies obtainable to carry accountable international nationals participating in prison exercise on our soil.”
The same scheme allegedly performed out within the spring of 2025, when the alleged sufferer introduced in a public video feed that he deliberate to unveil two new creative statues that depicted Xi and his spouse.
Mr Cui and Mr Miller paid two different people – recognized in courtroom paperwork as “Particular person 3” and “Particular person 4” – to attempt to dissuade the alleged sufferer from sharing his on-line show of statues.
These people have been paid $36,000 (£26,745), however the indictment notes that these two folks have been additionally affiliated with and appearing on the path of the FBI.
The 2 males stay in Serbia and the US is co-ordinating with Serbian officers relating to their pending extraditions.
“An indictment is merely an allegation,” the US Legal professional’s Workplace of the Central District of California mentioned in a press release. “All defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a courtroom of regulation.”
