In 2013, Yao was sentenced to ten years in prison for smuggling ordinary items, but his friends believe the publisher was set up. In 2014, he was officially sentenced to 10 years in prison. As of 2019, he is reported to be severely ill, but his family’s petitions that Yao be granted medical parole have been repeatedly denied. He was released in March 2023 after completing his sentence and reunited with his family in Hong Kong.