Tianrui Liang was taken into custody by the FBI following
allegations that he photographed restricted military equipment at Offutt Air
Force Base in Nebraska. The charges were formally announced on Thursday by
United States Attorney Lesley Woods and Assistant Attorney General for National
Security John Eisenberg.
Offutt Air Force Base is a strategically significant
location, serving as the headquarters for the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic
Command. It also houses the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center, aircraft
colloquially known as "Doomsday" planes, designed to serve as mobile
command centers during national emergencies.
According to the federal complaint, Liang entered the United
States from Vancouver, Canada, on March 28 using a valid B1/B2 visa. Before his
arrival in Nebraska, investigators alleged that he was present at Ellsworth Air
Force Base in South Dakota.
After being confronted by the FBI in Nebraska, Liang
reportedly traveled to New York. He was subsequently arrested at John F.
Kennedy International Airport. Following an initial court appearance in the
Eastern District of New York, a magistrate judge ordered his release; however,
federal prosecutors in Nebraska successfully appealed that decision.
On April 10, the Chief District Court Judge ordered Liang
back into custody. He is currently being held by the U.S. Marshals Service and
is being transported to Nebraska for further legal proceedings.
“Any individuals who unlawfully attempt to acquire sensitive
information about military aircraft located in the District of Nebraska will be
held accountable under federal law,” Woods stated following the announcement.
This incident follows a separate case reported on Wednesday,
in which another Chinese national, Qilin Wu, was charged with photographing the
Missouri home base of the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Stealth Bomber.
The criminal complaint against Liang serves as a formal
charge, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If
convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Federal officials
noted that the arrest warrant was executed in part to prevent the defendant
from fleeing the country while the investigation remains active.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald Kleine and Matt Lierman, with assistance from
the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
No comments:
Post a Comment