a criminal complaint has been filed against Qilin Wu, a 
national who illegally entered the US on June 22, 2023. The complaint charges Wu with one count of taking photographs of a vital military installation — Whiteman AFB, the base for all 19 operational B-2 Spirit nuclear-capable stealth bombers — and military equipment without authorization, in violation of US law.
On Dec 2, 2025, the Whiteman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) investigated a report of a suspicious minivan bearing a Massachusetts license plate near the perimeter of the military installation. Air Force patrolmen were dispatched to the area to investigate, and encountered Wu, who stated that he was there to observe the B-2 Spirit aircraft. The patrolmen informed Wu that he was not permitted to take photographs or make video recordings of the military installation.
The following day, AFOSI was notified that the same minivan was again identified at a perimeter fence of Whiteman Air Force Base. AFOSI agents went to the area to investigate and again made contact with Wu. Wu admitted to taking videos of the B-2 Spirit aircraft and numerous photographs of Whiteman’s perimeter fencing, a gate, and military equipment.
Wu showed investigators his phone, including images of Whiteman Air Force Base and military equipment that Wu had recorded. In total, investigators observed 18 images and videos that Wu admitted he had taken of the installation and of military equipment. Wu also admitted to having photographed another US Air Force base and its military aircraft as well.
Wu is a Chinese national who illegally entered the US on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Arizona. At that time, Wu was arrested by immigration authorities for illegally being present in the US. Due to a lack of detention space, Wu was released on his own recognizance to await immigration removal proceedings originally scheduled for Feb 9, 2027. On Dec 3, 2025, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) re-arrested Wu.
If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 795, Wu would be subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes; any sentence would be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/c
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Byron Wan
@Byron_Wan
Whiteman AFB, the base for all 19 operational B-2 Spirit nuclear-capable stealth bombers, shares a fence with the Knob Noster Trailer Park in Missouri. The RV park is one of several properties near US military interests acquired by a web of shell companies ultimately owned by