Chinese National Wanted For Robbery Arrested While Boarding Flight To China With One-Way Ticket

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A 20-year-old Chinese national wanted for robbery is in custody after being apprehended while trying to board a plane to China.

Gangyi Zhang was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport Monday night, just hours after the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department issued a warrant for his arrest, Customs and Border Protection officials said.

Zhang is a student at a local university. CBP officials say he purchased a "go-show" one-way ticket just before the plane's scheduled departure in an apparent attempt to flee the U.S.

"This individual was taken into custody by CBP officers just hours after the warrant was issued, and moments from boarding a plane for China, and possibly outside the reach of U.S. law enforcement forever," CBP director of field operations, Todd Owen, said in a statement.

Zhang is being held without bail on an immigration hold. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.