US Man Accused of Swapping Rare Chinese Manuscripts with Fakes

A man from California is facing federal charges after allegedly stealing rare Chinese manuscripts from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Library, replacing them with forgeries, and potentially exporting the originals to China. The value of the stolen works is estimated at $216,000, according to US officials.

Accused and Allegations

The accused, Jeffery Ying, aged 38 and a resident of Fremont, Bay Area, is alleged to have:

• Used multiple aliases to gain access to UCLA’s rare collections
• Stolen centuries-old Chinese manuscripts, some dating back over 600 years
• Returned counterfeit replacements to the library
• Frequently travelled to China shortly after each incident

According to the US Department of Justice (DoJ):

“The library noticed that several rare Chinese manuscripts were missing, and an initial investigation revealed the books were last viewed by a visitor who identified himself as ‘Alan Fujimori’.”

Modus Operandi

The suspect’s methods appeared calculated and well-practised. Authorities say:

“Law enforcement also found pre-made labels known as asset tags associated with the same manuscripts that could be used to create ‘dummy’ books to return to the library in place of the original books.”

Importantly, UCLA’s policy prohibits the removal of rare or one-of-a-kind works from the premises. These materials may only be viewed under supervision within the library itself.

Legal Consequences

China’s Booming Art Market

The case is set against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding Chinese art market, where:

• State-sanctioned museums are growing in number
• A nationalistic and affluent middle class is fuelling demand for the return of Chinese cultural heritage
• Private collectors and dealers play an increasingly important role

China is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing art markets, with collectors eager to reclaim artefacts linked to the nation’s imperial and scholarly past.

This case highlights the growing intersection of art theft, international trafficking, and cultural nationalism, and underscores the increasing sophistication of art-related crimes involving valuable antiquities.