Alleged Theft of Rare Chinese Manuscripts

A 38-year-old man, identified as Jeffrey Ying, has been charged with a federal crime for allegedly stealing rare Chinese manuscripts from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) library system. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Ying operated under multiple aliases, including “Jason Wang,” “Alan Fujimori,” and “Austin Chen,” to carry out a scheme that resulted in the theft of historical documents valued at $216,000.

The Scheme Unveiled

Ying, reportedly from the San Francisco Bay Area, is accused of borrowing these valuable manuscripts under false pretenses. He allegedly took them home for several days before returning counterfeit versions to the library. The DOJ’s press release detailed that Ying traveled to and from China shortly after each theft, raising suspicions about his activities.

Investigation and Discovery

The investigation began when library staff noticed the disappearance of several rare manuscripts. These documents were not part of regular circulation due to their rarity and required special reservation and checkout procedures. The last person to view these books was recorded as “Alan Fujimori,” one of Ying’s aliases. Law enforcement tracked Ying to a hotel room in Brentwood, where they discovered blank paper resembling the style of the stolen manuscripts. Additionally, pre-made asset tags associated with the manuscripts were found, suggesting a sophisticated plan to replace genuine documents with fakes.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

Ying is currently in state custody and is expected to appear in United States District Court in Los Angeles soon. He faces charges of theft of major artwork, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. The FBI’s Art Crime Team, alongside the UCLA Police Department, is leading the investigation.

Implications for UCLA Library

The UCLA Library system is one of North America’s largest academic research libraries, housing 18 million titles. This incident highlights the challenges faced by institutions in safeguarding valuable cultural assets. The case underscores the importance of stringent security measures to protect rare collections from theft and fraud.