Chinese national accused of illegally modifying DHS computers at border stations

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A Chinese national who worked as a U.S. Customs and Board Protection supervisor in Calais, Maine, was arrested and charged with plotting to install modified hardware in Department of Homeland Security computers, according to the FBI.

Terry “Jiajia” Liu, who is originally of Guangzhou according to his Facebook page, was arrested following a counterintelligence investigation that captured hidden-camera footage of him breaking into government computers and modifying hard drives, The Maine Wire reported.

Liu, 39, allegedly stripped components from government computers and replaced them with inferior parts. He then traded the originals to an electronics retailer for credit, according to court records released Friday in Maine District Court.

Liu is charged with theft and damage of government property. The case involves 46 altered computers at three Maine border facilities.

He appeared Thursday before a magistrate judge in Bangor, and he was ordered temporarily held without bail pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday morning. Liu waived a preliminary hearing but requested a hearing on the government’s detention motion.

Prosecutors are hoping to deny bail, citing frequent international travel, financial resources and a home close enough to Canada that an ankle bracelet wouldn’t prevent him from leaving the country.

The government estimates that replacing the inferior parts Lui is alleged to have installed would cost $20,460. Replacing all 46 computers that were tampered with would cost an estimated $105,800, before additional expenses to configure them for government use.