A troubling case out of UCLA has drawn national attention and raised concerns among library professionals after a user was charged with stealing rare Chinese manuscripts valued at over $200,000. According to a report from AFP via CBS News (Aug. 8, 2025), Jeffery Ying, 38, allegedly used multiple aliases to gain access to the university’s special collections, swapping out centuries-old works for counterfeits.
UCLA policy requires that rare and one-of-a-kind materials be reviewed on-site, not removed from the premises. However, Ying was reportedly able to check out several items under false identities and return fakes—complete with fabricated asset tags—before frequently traveling to China. Authorities recovered blank manuscripts and other forgery materials from his hotel room during a raid.
The incident has highlighted a growing need for better safeguards and training for library workers tasked with protecting irreplaceable cultural materials. Ying now faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted of theft of a major artwork.
For full details, see the original article from CBS News here.
