Man In Rare Book Heist Sentenced After Stealing $216,000 Worth Of Manuscripts From Ucla Library

A blase strategy to pilfer uncommon and humanities Chinese manuscripts from nan UCLA library strategy has concluded pinch nan sentencing of Jeffrey Ying, who received a twelvemonth of location confinement and in installments for clip already served successful custody.

The 39-year-old, from Fremont, California, admitted to nan theft of a awesome artwork.

Ying pleaded blameworthy successful October successful Los Angeles national tribunal to 1 felony count. Restitution for nan stolen items, which included a 1685 Chinese manuscript weighted astatine astir $16,715, will beryllium wished astatine a later date.

Prosecutors elaborate really Ying stole uncommon books and manuscripts worthy astir $216,000 from UCLA’s room betwixt December 2024 and July 2025. His method progressive renting nan documents, transporting them to nan Bay Area, and past returning a counterfeit manuscript successful spot of nan authentic original.

Federal prosecutors noted that Ying typically traveled to China wrong days of these thefts.

Book heist busted

The investigation came aft room officials noticed respective uncommon Chinese manuscripts missing from nan UCLA East Asian Library. An first investigation revealed nan books were past viewed by a visitant identifying himself arsenic "Alan Fujimori."

Due to their rarity and value, these books are not successful wide circulation and require reservations for checkout. UCLA unit later reported that nan sanction Alan Fujimori was associated pinch a known book thief responsible for akin incidents astatine UC Berkeley.

During nan investigation, rule enforcement searched Ying's Brentwood edifice room, uncovering blank manuscripts and paperwork designed to mimic nan books he had checked out.

Investigators besides recovered pre-made plus tags, accordant pinch those utilized by nan university, which could beryllium affixed to "dummy" books to facilitate nan fraudulent returns, according to nan U.S. Attorney's Office. Ying had besides utilized UCLA's interlibrary indebtedness strategy to get books from UC San Diego and UC Irvine.

Upon Ying's apprehension successful August 2025, authorities discovered a fraudulent California recognition paper nether nan sanction Austin Chen, alongside 2 room cards base nan names Austin Chen and Jason Wang, believed to beryllium aliases utilized by nan defendant.