Two foreign nationals have been charged with stalking an artist in Los Angeles who has been vocal against Chinese President Xi Jinping. Federal officials announced the charges against Cui Guanghai, 43, from China, and John Miller, 63, a British national living in the U.S. The charges include interstate stalking, conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, smuggling, and violating the Arms Export Control Act.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the defendants are accused of planning to harass an individual who criticized the Chinese government while exercising their free speech rights in the United States. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated that the defendants also attempted to acquire and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China.
The alleged stalking involved a series of actions aimed at intimidating the victim, who has not been publicly named. The defendants reportedly hired two individuals, unaware that they were working with the FBI, to carry out their plan. This included surveilling the victim, installing a tracking device on their vehicle, and damaging the victim’s property, including slashing tires and destroying sculptures that depicted Xi Jinping and his wife.
The situation escalated in the spring of 2025 when the victim announced plans to showcase two statues online. Cui and Miller allegedly offered $36,500 to convince the victim not to display the artwork. The FBI was involved throughout the investigation, monitoring the actions of the defendants and their associates.
In addition to the stalking charges, Cui and Miller are accused of attempting to illegally export U.S. defense items, including drones and cryptographic devices, to China. They discussed various methods to smuggle these items, even considering hiding them in household appliances. They allegedly paid a deposit of $10,000 for one of the devices through a U.S. courier.
If convicted, the defendants face significant prison time: up to five years for conspiracy, five years for interstate stalking, 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act, and 10 years for smuggling. The case highlights the ongoing concerns over foreign interference and the protection of free speech in the United States.