The person at the center of this case
United States (espionage victim)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
6 years waiting · since 2020
YANQING YE
Justice for United States (espionage victim) — the trail went cold in 2020, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What specific military assignments did Ye complete while at Boston University, and who were the PLA officers directing her activities?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What U.S. documents and information did Ye transmit to China, and through what channels?
👁️
witness
Lead #3Which Boston University colleagues or supervisors had contact with Ye, and did they notice suspicious behavior?
Yanqing Ye, a Lieutenant in China's People's Liberation Army, allegedly obtained a J-1 student visa to Boston University in 2017 by falsely claiming to be a civilian student while concealing her military service. During her time in the U.S. from October 2017 to April 2019, she is accused of conducting espionage activities including assessing U.S. military websites and transmitting sensitive documents to China. A federal arrest warrant was issued on January 28, 2020, but Ye is believed to have fled to China before apprehension.
Case
#808
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts; FBI Counterintelligence
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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 #4How did Ye maintain communication with her NUDT supervisor while in the U.S., and what records exist of these contacts?
⏰
timeline
Lead #5Why did Ye remain in the U.S. until April 2019 if the warrant was issued in January 2020—what triggered the investigation?
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
Ye arrives in United States
Yanqing Ye enters the U.S. on a J-1 visa and begins studies at Boston University's Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering
📍
2019-04-30
Ye's studies at Boston University end
Ye's enrollment at Boston University concludes 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 for acting as an agent of a foreign government, visa fraud, making false statements, and conspiracy
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2017
Last Updated:September 28, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2017
Last Updated:September 28, 2026