Yinpiao Zhou, a 39-year-old Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, faced judgment on a charge of violating the national defense airspace after he flew a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to court documents. On March 10, Zhou pleaded guilty to the federal count and, this past Monday, was sentenced to four months, a duration he had already served, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles. Alongside his sentence, Zhou was placed on a yearlong period of supervised release and ordered to pay $225 in fines and special assessments, The Orange County Register adds.
Zhou was apprehended on December 9 at San Francisco International Airport when he attempted to board a flight bound for China, the day before his scheduled court appearance. Detection systems at the Vandenberg base, situated in Santa Barbara County, picked up the drone Zhou piloted on November 30, 2024, which flew for nearly an hour at an altitude close to one mile above ground, originating from a public area called Ocean Park. Zhou was spotted at the park with the drone concealed in his jacket, and the base security engaged him and another individual accompanying him, as per the affidavit filed in court and cited by the United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California.
Investigations further revealed that Zhou had taken several photographs of the military complex using his drone. A search of his phone indicated that he had looked up "Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules" and communicated about modifying his drone to surpass its standard flying capabilities. These findings played a significant role in the case against Zhou, who had returned to the U.S. from China in February 2024.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the breach of security, stating, "The security of our nation is of paramount importance and my office will continue to promote the safety of our nation’s military personnel and facilities."
