British, Chinese Intimidate Anti-Xi LA Residents; Man Caught by FBI
Arrests Made in Alleged Plot to Silence Xi Jinping Critic in Los Angeles
Table of Contents
- Arrests Made in Alleged Plot to Silence Xi Jinping Critic in Los Angeles
- Details of the Arrests and Charges
- Timeline of the Alleged Conspiracy
- FBI Inquiry Uncovers Further Plot
- Potential Penalties and Extradition
- Arrests in Alleged Plot to Silence Xi Jinping Critic: A Q&A
- What happened?
- What are the charges against Cui Guanghai and john Miller?
- When did the alleged conspiracy begin?
- What actions did Cui Guanghai and john Miller allegedly take?
- what is the role of the FBI in this case?
- What are the potential penalties if Cui and Miller are convicted?
- What is the current status of the case?
- Key Timeline of Events
- What does “extradition” mean?
- Where can I find more information?
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two men,a Chinese national and a British citizen,have been arrested in connection with an alleged conspiracy to harass and intimidate a los Angeles-based sculptor critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping,according to a U.S. department of Justice announcement made April 25.
Details of the Arrests and Charges
Cui Guanghai,43,of China,and John Miller,63,of Britain,were apprehended by Serbian law enforcement,the Justice Department said. A criminal indictment accuses them of orchestrating a campaign to silence the artist,who has publicly voiced criticism of the Chinese government and its leader.
Timeline of the Alleged Conspiracy
According to court documents, the alleged conspiracy began in October 2023. Cui and Miller are accused of recruiting individuals within the United States to disrupt planned protests against Xi Jinping during the APEC summit in November 2023.
Weeks before the summit, the pair allegedly directed an interstate operation involving surveillance of the victim, installing tracking devices on the sculptor’s vehicle, slashing tires, and destroying a statue of xi Jinping and his wife created by the artist.
FBI Inquiry Uncovers Further Plot
In the spring of 2025, a similar plot unfolded after the sculptor announced plans to release new statues of Xi Jinping and his wife online. Cui and Miller allegedly paid approximately $36,500 to two individuals to persuade the victim to halt the display of the statues. Unbeknownst to them, these individuals were FBI informants cooperating with the investigation.
Potential Penalties and Extradition
The Justice Department emphasized that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Cui and Miller each face up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy and an additional five years for interstate stalking.
The FBI is leading the investigation and has expressed gratitude to the Serbian Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, and the Office of the Prosecutor of the Republic for their assistance.The U.S. government is seeking the extradition of cui and Miller and anticipates continued cooperation with Serbian authorities.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Arrests in Alleged Plot to Silence Xi Jinping Critic: A Q&A
This article provides data about the arrests of two men in connection wiht an alleged conspiracy to silence a los Angeles-based sculptor critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Below is detailed information based on the provided text.
What happened?
Two men, Cui Guanghai (Chinese national, 43) and John Miller (british citizen, 63), were arrested by Serbian law enforcement. They are accused of orchestrating a campaign to silence a Los Angeles-based sculptor who has publicly criticized the chinese government and Xi Jinping.
What are the charges against Cui Guanghai and john Miller?
A criminal indictment accuses Cui Guanghai and John Miller of conspiracy to harass and intimidate the sculptor. They face charges related to:
- Recruiting individuals to disrupt protests against Xi Jinping.
- Surveillance of the victim.
- Installing tracking devices on the sculptorS vehicle.
- Slashing tires.
- Destroying a statue of Xi Jinping and his wife.
- Attempting to persuade the sculptor to halt the display of new statues.
When did the alleged conspiracy begin?
According to court documents, the alleged conspiracy began in October 2023.
What actions did Cui Guanghai and john Miller allegedly take?
The alleged actions detailed in the article include:
- Recruiting individuals to disrupt protests against Xi Jinping planned for the APEC summit in November 2023.
- Directing surveillance of the sculptor.
- Installing tracking devices on the sculptor’s vehicle.
- Slashing tires on the sculptor’s vehicle.
- Destroying a statue created by the artist.
- Paying individuals to persuade the sculptor to halt the display of new statues.
what is the role of the FBI in this case?
The FBI is leading the inquiry. They uncovered a further plot when the sculptor planned to release new statues online. the FBI also used informants in the investigation to gather information.
What are the potential penalties if Cui and Miller are convicted?
If convicted, cui and Miller coudl each face up to:
- Five years in federal prison for conspiracy.
- An additional five years in federal prison for interstate stalking.
What is the current status of the case?
The U.S. government is seeking the extradition of cui and miller. They anticipate continued cooperation with Serbian authorities.
Key Timeline of Events
Here is a summary of the events:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | Alleged conspiracy begins. |
| November 2023 | Alleged attempt to disrupt protests against Xi Jinping during the APEC summit. |
| Weeks before November 2023 (APEC Summit) | Surveillance, tracking, and statue destruction allegedly occur. |
| Spring 2025 | FBI uncovers further plot involving new statues. |
| April 25 (Justice Department Announcement) | Announcement of arrests. |
What does “extradition” mean?
Extradition is the act of one sovereign jurisdiction handing over a person accused or convicted of a crime to another jurisdiction that has the right to claim the person.
Where can I find more information?
The Associated Press contributed to this report.