Overview

• John Miller, 63, and co-defendant Cui Guanghai, 43, were indicted by federal grand juries on charges including conspiracy, smuggling and violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
• Prosecutors allege the pair sought to procure missile launchers, air defense radars, Black Hornet drones and encrypted communications gear, discussing concealing a device inside a blender for shipment.
• Court filings show Miller referred to President Xi Jinping as “The Boss” in intercepted calls and boasted of meeting senior Chinese officials during a June 2023 trip, suggesting he acted under Beijing’s direction.
• The indictment details an interstate scheme to intimidate a Chinese-American artist critical of Xi Jinping by installing a tracking device on his car and paying associates to suppress his protest sculptures.
• Miller and Cui have been held in Belgrade since April and face up to 40 years in prison if convicted as U.S. authorities work with Serbia to secure their extradition.