Federal grand juries in Wisconsin and California each returned indictments charging two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai of China, and John Miller of the United Kingdom and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
“As alleged, the defendants targeted a U.S. resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values.”
“The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticized the actions of the People’s Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation, [or FBI], Deputy Director Dan Bongino. “The same individuals also are charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China.”
According to court documents, beginning in October 2023, Cui and Miller enlisted two individuals inside the United States to carry out a plot to prevent the victim from protesting President Xi Jinping’s appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, summit in November 2023.
In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, Cui and Miller coordinated a scheme to surveil the victim, to install a tracking device on the victim’s car, to slash the tires on the victim’s car, among other things.
According to court documents, beginning in November 2023, Miller and Cui solicited the procurement of U.S. defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People’s Republic of China.
The FBI is coordinating with Serbian authorities regarding the pending extraditions of Cui and Miller from Serbia. If convicted, Cui and Miller face could face up to 40 years in prison.
“This Justice Department,” said Deputy Attorney General Blanche, “will not tolerate foreign repression on U.S. soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defense systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.”
Defending National Security and Free Speech
- Policy Office
Two U.S. Federal grand juries returned indictments charging two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai of China, and John Miller of the United Kingdom and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, with interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
