The person at the center of this case
United States Government / National Security
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
6 years waiting · since 2020
YANQING YE
Justice for United States Government / National Security — the trail went cold in 2020, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1How did Ye maintain secure communications with PLA supervisors while in the United States without detection?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific U.S. military documents and information were transmitted to China, and through what channels?
👁️
witness
Lead #3Did Boston University colleagues or classmates observe suspicious behavior or foreign contacts during her enrollment?
Yanqing Ye, a Lieutenant in China's People's Liberation Army, obtained a J-1 student visa to study physics at Boston University from 2017 to 2019 by falsely claiming to be a civilian student and concealing her military service. While in the United States, she allegedly conducted espionage activities including researching U.S. military websites and transmitting sensitive documents to China under direction from PLA officers. A federal arrest warrant was issued on January 28, 2020, but Ye is believed to have fled to China before apprehension.
Case
#808
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) / U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4What assignments from PLA officers were completed during her time in the U.S., and what was the intelligence value?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Acting as an Agent of a Foreign Government; Visa Fraud; Making False Statements; Conspiracy Caution: Yanqing Ye is a Lieutenant in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China, and a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Ye studied at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), a top military academy directed by the CCP in China.
It is alleged that, on her J-1 visa application, Ye falsely identified herself as a “student” and lied about her ongoing military service at the NUDT. During Ye's time in the United States on her J-1 visa, she maintained close contact with her supervisor at the NUDT and other colleagues.
While studying at Boston University’s Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering from October of 2017 to April of 2019, Ye allegedly continued to work as a PLA Lieutenant completing numerous assignments from PLA officers such as conducting research, assessing United States military websites, and sending United States documents and information to China. On January 28, 2020, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Ye in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, after she was charged with acting as an agent of a foreign government, visa fraud, making false statements, and conspiracy.
Remarks: Ye is believed to be in China.
Timeline of Events
📞
2017-10-01
Boston University Enrollment
Yanqing Ye begins studies at Boston University's Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering on a J-1 visa
📞
2019-04-01
Boston University Departure
Ye completes her studies at Boston University in April 2019
🕵️
2020-01-28
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant is issued for Ye in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on charges of acting as a foreign government agent, visa fraud, making false statements, and conspiracy
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2017
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2017
Last Updated:April 29, 2026