The person at the center of this case
United States (counterintelligence case)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
6 years waiting · since 2020
YANQING YE
Justice for United States (counterintelligence case) — the trail went cold in 2020, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1What specific U.S. military websites did Ye assess and what information was transmitted to China?
🎯
suspect
Lead #2What was the nature of Ye's communications with her PLA supervisors and other military colleagues during her time in Boston?
💡
clue
Lead #3How did Ye successfully obtain her J-1 visa despite her active PLA service, and what documentation did she falsify?
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 active military service. During her time in the U.S. from October 2017 to April 2019, she is accused of conducting espionage activities including research assessments of 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, making her apprehension and prosecution uncertain.
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.
📍
location
Lead #4Where in China is Ye currently believed to be hiding, and has she maintained contact with U.S.-based associates?
👤
person
Lead #5Were other PLA members or Chinese intelligence operatives working with Ye in the United States?
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 to study at Boston University's Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering
👁️
2017-10-01
Study period begins
Ye begins her studies at Boston University while allegedly maintaining contact with PLA supervisors and conducting espionage activities
👤
2019-04-30
Ye departs United States
Ye's authorized study period at Boston University ends in April 2019; she subsequently leaves the United States
🕵️
2020-01-28
Federal arrest warrant issued
A federal arrest warrant is issued 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
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2017
Last Updated:June 16, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:October 1, 2017
Last Updated:June 16, 2026