Yinpiao Zhou, a Chinese language citizen, was arrested Monday and accused of utilizing a drone to {photograph} the Vandenberg Area Power Base outdoors Santa Barbara, Calif.
Zhou, 39, was charged with failure to register an plane not offering transportation and a violation of nationwide protection airspace, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Central District of California mentioned in a launch.
He was arrested at San Francisco Worldwide Airport previous to boarding a China-bound flight.
Vandenberg’s detection system noticed the drone on Nov. 30. The plane flew for practically an hour, traveled to an altitude of a few mile above floor degree and commenced within the Ocean Park public space near the bottom, in response to officers.
Brokers went to the park and located that Zhou had a drone “concealed in his jacket.” He was accompanied by one other particular person, who arrived within the U.S. from China on Nov. 26.
Authorities later investigated Zhou’s drone with a federal search warrant and located a number of pictures of the Area Power base. A search of his cellphone additionally confirmed that he had performed a Google search a month prior with the phrase “Vandenberg Area Power Base Drone Guidelines,” in response to the discharge.
The person additionally messaged with one other particular person earlier about hacking the drone to fly greater than regular, officers added.
Zhou is a Chinese language citizen and lawful everlasting resident of the U.S. He was final in China in February 2024.
If convicted, he would face a minimal sentence of 4 years in federal jail.
The FBI is investigating the matter.
