A Chinese student got into serious trouble for flying a drone near a U.S. naval base. The student, 26-year-old Shi Fengyun, admitted he was wrong and pleaded guilty in a court in Norfolk, Virginia.
Shi Fengyun is a graduate student at the University of Minnesota. He was accused of flying a drone near a military base in Virginia and taking pictures of the ships there. This is against the law because these areas have special protections to keep them safe.
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Shi Fengyun looked very nervous in court. He was wearing a green and gray jacket and sports pants. He took deep breaths and shook his legs while waiting to talk to the judge.
Shi Fengyun, born in China in 1998, pleaded guilty to two out of six Espionage Act misdemeanors in federal court in Virginia’s Eastern District on July 8, according to court documents.
The Department of Justice, which charged Mr. Shi in June, dismissed the remaining four misdemeanors.
Shi admitted to two out of six charges. The charges were about taking pictures of the military base and flying a drone in a no-fly zone. The other four charges were dropped by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The judge said Shi could go to prison for up to two years and might have to pay $200,000 in fines. Before deciding the exact punishment, the judge wants to learn more about Shi’s situation. This decision might happen in August or September.
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Shi flew the drone near the Newport News Shipyard in January. He took pictures of naval ships that were still being designed. Shi’s drone got stuck in a tree on private land. A person living nearby saw this and called the police. The police then found photos and videos on the drone showing the naval ships.
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Prosecutors think Shi Fengyun’s actions were suspicious because he flew the drone in bad weather and couldn’t explain why. They believe he was trying to gather sensitive information.
This type of case is very rare. There was a similar case over ten years ago when a woman was arrested for taking pictures outside a military base in Long Island. Her charges were dismissed, and she later sued the government, winning $1.12 million.
Shi first flew the drone a little before midnight the night of Jan. 5. Shi flew the drone around BAE Systems Shipbuilding and General Dynamics NASSCO in Norfolk, Virginia, and took pictures of drydocked U.S. naval vessels.
Shi Fengyun’s actions are considered misdemeanors, which are less serious than felonies. His lawyer asked for leniency, saying Shi Fengyun should be allowed to finish his studies. Shi’s family has spent a lot of time and money on his education. Shi is currently out on bond but must stay in Virginia.
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Authorities might deport Shi after sentencing. His lawyer wants to ask the court to let him leave Virginia so he can go back to school in August.
A professor explained that this case doesn’t mean the U.S. government thinks all foreign nationals are spies. Instead, it shows that the U.S. needs better protection for its military bases, like setting up barriers that can stop drones from flying in certain areas. This would help keep sensitive information safe.