A Customs and Border Protection supervisor on the Maine-Canada line spent midnight shifts popping open Homeland Security computers, ripping out the good processors, stuffing in junk chips, and plugging the wrecks back into the government network. Hidden cameras caught him doing it. Then he traded the stolen Intel parts for store credit.
That is not a parable. That is the federal case against Terry “Jiajia” Liu, 39, of Calais, Maine.
Liu described himself as a native of Guangzhou, China. He supervised the Calais Port of Entry and had duties at the Ferry Point and Milltown crossings. CBP officers are required to be U.S. citizens. A court filing says he is not a foreign national. Those two facts can sit in the same paragraph and still leave the country with a hole in the wall. Who hired him? Who cleared him for after-hours access to the machines that process the northern border?
Forty-Six Machines, Cheap Parts, Same Network
The Maine Wire’s Steve Robinson obtained the affidavit from FBI Special Agent Christopher J. White. CBP IT staff first noticed unauthorized work in late 2025. The inventory grew to 46 computers. Thirty-eight sat in Calais. Six were at Ferry Point. Two were at Milltown.
Thirty-nine had their CPUs swapped. Six had RAM changed. Eight had hard drives replaced. Some boxes took more than one hit.
The originals carried 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processors, including the i7-14700 parts that PCMag says Newegg’s trade-in program would buy for about $200 apiece. What went back in were older, weaker chips, including Pentium-class processors that did not meet CBP specs. Less memory. Less storage. Then the machines went back on the agency network.
Read that last sentence again. They did not leave the junk on a cart. They logged it into Homeland Security.
The government says it would cost more than $20,000 just to put the right parts back and more than $105,000 to replace the 46 computers before anyone even configures them for official use.
He Was Told to Stop. He Did Not Stop.
Liu’s job included limited IT duties. He was not authorized to tear the boxes apart. Port Director Theodore Cummings put it in writing on March 18, 2025, after speaking with him.
Please do not move any computers or computer parts.
Cummings added that contractor gear and CBP computers were not Liu’s playground. Stay in your lane. File a ticket.
I do appreciate the intent but we should stay in our lane and report deficiencies through the work ticket process.
Liu allegedly kept going. Investigators installed cameras. On a January overnight shift they recorded him carrying computers into a training room, popping the side panels, pulling processors, scraping thermal paste, seating replacements, and hooking the machines back to monitors, keyboards, and network cables. At one point he appeared to log in with his government ID. Another camera later caught him pulling a memory module and dropping it in his desk drawer.
Midnight coverage at Calais often left one supervisor on the passenger side while traffic ran through cargo. Plenty of quiet. Plenty of time.
Newegg Credit and a Changing Story
The missing chips did not vanish into a sock drawer. The affidavit describes 13 emails Liu sent from a personal account to his official CBP inbox with shipping labels and trade-in summaries for processors matching the government parts. Newegg records showed credit for trading in 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processors 16 times between May 2025 and July 2026. American Express turned up matching $200 credits.
On September 9 he admitted to the FBI that he used CBP parts in the Newegg program. First story. He was making the computers “more efficient.” Second story, after more questions. He knew the swaps degraded performance. He did it because he was angry about how long CBP repairs took.
Anger is not a security clearance. It is also not a warrant to gut border computers and sell the organs.
He is charged with theft of government property and destruction of government property. Each count carries up to 10 years in federal prison. The complaint counts 10 stolen Intel processors worth more than $1,000 between roughly May 2025 and January 2026, plus damage above $1,000 between January and March 2026.
A House on the Line and a Flight Out of Bangor
Prosecutors want him held. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Ruge cited recent and frequent international travel, financial resources, “apparent foreign connections,” and a home so close to Canada that an ankle monitor might not keep him in the district.
A Washington County source told The Maine Wire Liu was grabbed at Bangor International Airport trying to catch a flight to China, and that his Poole Street property in Calais, purchased in 2018 and sitting on the Canadian border, was raided Thursday. Court records have not independently confirmed every detail of the airport stop. That caveat belongs in the story. So does the fact that prosecutors are treating flight risk as more than a theory.
Before Calais he lived in Oklahoma, where his Facebook page indicates college and a government job. Corporate records show a brief cannabis license tied to Jliu Farm LLC in Webbers Falls. He has posted images suggesting he voted in 2020. Native of Guangzhou. Possible voter. CBP supervisor. Border house. That stack of facts is why people are asking questions the affidavit does not answer.
The Charge Is Theft. The Failure Is Bigger.
Give the document its due. The affidavit does not allege malware. It does not claim he beamed files to Beijing. Maine Wire says it plainly. That is not a clean bill of health. It is the floor of the indictment.
You do not need a spy novel to see the damage. A supervisor with after-hours access opened government machines, swapped processors and drives, and put the altered hardware back on the CBP network at three northern ports. For months. After a written order to stop. While the agency that is supposed to watch the border could not even watch its own desktops.
HotAir asked the obvious question. How does a man who presents as a Guangzhou native end up supervising computers at a U.S. port of entry? The Bangor Daily News and local court filings fill in the hardware. They do not fill in the hiring file.
China spends real money and real patience placing people near sensitive systems. Sometimes the payoff is intelligence. Sometimes it is simply a man with a screwdriver and a Newegg account inside a building that processes the border. Either way, the watchmen were asleep.
His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to sleep.
Isaiah was not writing about Calais. He might as well have been. A port director sent an email. IT found the wreckage months later. Cameras had to be installed before anyone could prove what a supervisor was doing in a training room after midnight. Then the machines went back on the network anyway.
Theft charges may be what prosecutors can prove today. The public question is older and uglier. Who thought limited “IT duties” meant leaving a Guangzhou-born supervisor alone with Homeland Security computers on the Canadian line, and why did it take hidden cameras to stop him?
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.