# Two Men Sentenced in Chinese Spy Case

> Two men sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for spying on U.S. military for China’s intelligence agency.
- Title: Two Men Sentenced in Chinese Spy Case · Sfgate | Shortify
- Summary: Two men sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for spying on U.S. military for China’s intelligence agency. Liren 'Ryan' Lai and Yuance Chen were each…
- Keywords: liren ryan lai, yuance chen, ministry of state security, federal prison, bay area, dead drop payments, spy case, Sfgate
- Source: Sfgate — https://sfgate.com/bayarea/article/chinese-spy-bay-area-22510149.php
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: liren ryan lai, yuance chen, ministry of state security, federal prison, bay area, dead drop payments, spy case, news, local
## Sentences for Spy Activity
Two men were sentenced in Oakland for spying on U.S. military for Chinese intelligence agency in yearslong operation.
## 30-Month Prison Terms
Liren 'Ryan' Lai and Yuance Chen each received 30 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
## Operation Timeline
The spy operation began as early as June 2015 and continued until June 2025 when FBI arrested the men.
## Dead Drop Payments
The men used dead drop cash payments in the Bay Area, including $10,000 in January 2022 and $20,000 in January 2024.
## Information Collected
They gathered photos of Navy bases, recruits, and military personnel for China’s intelligence agency.
## DOJ Statement
U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian said the scheme aimed to undermine national security and would be prosecuted.
## Key takeaway

Liren 'Ryan' Lai and Yuance Chen were each sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for acting as agents of China’s Ministry of State Security.