According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's
Office, Western District of Missouri, Qilin Wu entered the plea before U.S.
Magistrate Judge Jill Morris, admitting to one count of taking photographs of
restricted military property. The charges stem from events occurring in
December 2025 at Whiteman Air Force Base, home to the U.S. Air Force’s B-2
Spirit stealth bomber fleet.
According to court documents, the investigation began on Dec.
2, 2025, when Air Force patrolmen identified a suspicious minivan parked near
the base perimeter. When approached, Wu told officers he was observing the B-2
aircraft. Despite being explicitly warned that photography and video recording
of the installation were prohibited, Wu returned to the perimeter the following
day.
Upon a second encounter with Air Force Office of Special
Investigations (AFOSI) agents, Wu admitted to documenting the base. A review of
his phone revealed 18 images and videos capturing the installation’s perimeter
fencing, an entry gate, and military equipment. Furthermore, investigators
reported that Wu admitted to having previously photographed another U.S. Air
Force base and its aircraft.
Federal records indicate that Wu entered the United States
illegally near Nogales, Ariz., on June 22, 2023. At the time of his initial
apprehension, immigration authorities released him on his own recognizance due
to a lack of detention space, with removal proceedings scheduled for 2027.
Following his arrest at the military base, U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) took him back into custody on Dec. 3, 2025.
The charge of photographing a vital military installation
carries a maximum statutory penalty of one year in federal prison. A sentencing
hearing will be scheduled following the completion of a presentence investigation
by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case has drawn attention due to its security
implications, drawing involvement from the FBI, the Air Force’s Office of
Special Investigations, and the Department of Justice’s National Security
Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford and Brandon Chlarson
are prosecuting the case, with support from the Counterintelligence and Export
Control Section.
As the legal process moves toward sentencing, the incident
underscores ongoing federal efforts to protect sensitive military
infrastructure from unauthorized surveillance. The court will determine the
final sentence based on federal advisory guidelines and relevant statutory
factors.
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