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| Briton indicted in alleged plot to export US military technology to China | Briton indicted in alleged plot to export US military technology to China |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| John Miller, 63, and a Chinese man, Cui Guanghai, 43, are wanted by the FBI on charges relating to conspiracy to "traffic sensitive American military technology" | John Miller, 63, and a Chinese man, Cui Guanghai, 43, are wanted by the FBI on charges relating to conspiracy to "traffic sensitive American military technology" |
| A British man has been indicted in the US for allegedly trying to smuggle "sensitive American military technology" to China, including missiles, air defence radar and drones. | A British man has been indicted in the US for allegedly trying to smuggle "sensitive American military technology" to China, including missiles, air defence radar and drones. |
| John Miller, 63, and a Chinese man, Cui Guanghai, are wanted by the FBI on charges relating to conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling and violations of the Arms Control Act. | John Miller, 63, and a Chinese man, Cui Guanghai, are wanted by the FBI on charges relating to conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling and violations of the Arms Control Act. |
| Mr Miller, a permanent US resident, and Mr Cui, 43, were both arrested in Serbia. They remain there and could now face extradition to the US. | Mr Miller, a permanent US resident, and Mr Cui, 43, were both arrested in Serbia. They remain there and could now face extradition to the US. |
| The Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to a British national following his arrest in April and it is "in touch with the local authorities and his family". | The Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to a British national following his arrest in April and it is "in touch with the local authorities and his family". |
| Court documents suggest the two men discussed ways of exporting a device that could be used for encryption and decryption. They are alleged to have paid a $10,000 (£7,430) deposit for the equipment. | Court documents suggest the two men discussed ways of exporting a device that could be used for encryption and decryption. They are alleged to have paid a $10,000 (£7,430) deposit for the equipment. |
| Mr Miller and Mr Cui are also accused of trying to "harass" an anti-Chinese government protester, which included installing a tracking device on their car and slashing their tyres. | |
| Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the pair of a "blatant assault" on US national security and its democratic values. | Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the pair of a "blatant assault" on US national security and its democratic values. |
| He added: "This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems." | He added: "This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems." |
| If found guilty, Mr Miller could face up to 20 years in prison for violation of the Arms Export Control Act, and 10 years for smuggling. | If found guilty, Mr Miller could face up to 20 years in prison for violation of the Arms Export Control Act, and 10 years for smuggling. |
| Court documents detail how the men allegedly solicited the procurement of US defence articles, including missiles, air defence radar, drones and cryptographic devices for unlawful export to China. | Court documents detail how the men allegedly solicited the procurement of US defence articles, including missiles, air defence radar, drones and cryptographic devices for unlawful export to China. |
| Mr Cui and Mr Miller are said to have discussed with two individuals - identified as "Individual 5" and "Individual 6" in court documents - how to export a cryptographic device from the US to China. | Mr Cui and Mr Miller are said to have discussed with two individuals - identified as "Individual 5" and "Individual 6" in court documents - how to export a cryptographic device from the US to China. |
| Items the men allegedly discussed using to smuggle the technology include small electronics, a blender and a motor starter. | Items the men allegedly discussed using to smuggle the technology include small electronics, a blender and a motor starter. |
| The indictment also alleges the pair enlisted two individuals in the US to carry out a plot that would have prevented a victim from protesting against Chinese President Xi Jinping's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit held in Los Angeles in November 2023. | The indictment also alleges the pair enlisted two individuals in the US to carry out a plot that would have prevented a victim from protesting against Chinese President Xi Jinping's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit held in Los Angeles in November 2023. |
| Mr Miller and Mr Cui were unaware that those two individuals - identified in court documents as "Individual 1" and "Individual 2" - were acting at the direction of the FBI. | Mr Miller and Mr Cui were unaware that those two individuals - identified in court documents as "Individual 1" and "Individual 2" - were acting at the direction of the FBI. |
| "The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president," said US Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. | "The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president," said US Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. |
| "My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil." | "My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil." |
| A similar scheme allegedly played out in the spring of 2025, when the alleged victim announced in a public video feed that he planned to unveil two new artistic statues that depicted Xi and his wife. | A similar scheme allegedly played out in the spring of 2025, when the alleged victim announced in a public video feed that he planned to unveil two new artistic statues that depicted Xi and his wife. |
| Mr Cui and Mr Miller paid two other individuals - identified in court documents as "Individual 3" and "Individual 4" - to try and dissuade the alleged victim from sharing his online display of statues. | Mr Cui and Mr Miller paid two other individuals - identified in court documents as "Individual 3" and "Individual 4" - to try and dissuade the alleged victim from sharing his online display of statues. |
| Those individuals were paid $36,000 (£26,745), but the indictment notes that those two people were also affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. | Those individuals were paid $36,000 (£26,745), but the indictment notes that those two people were also affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. |
| The two men remain in Serbia and the US is co-ordinating with Serbian officials regarding their pending extraditions. | The two men remain in Serbia and the US is co-ordinating with Serbian officials regarding their pending extraditions. |
| "An indictment is merely an allegation," the US Attorney's Office of the Central District of California said in a statement. "All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law." | "An indictment is merely an allegation," the US Attorney's Office of the Central District of California said in a statement. "All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law." |