3 researchers charged with smuggling biological materials into U.S
by Lisa Hornung · UPINov. 6 (UPI) -- Three Chinese researchers at the University of Michigan were charged with conspiracy to smuggle biological materials into the United States, the Department of Justice said.
The three, Xu Bai, 28; Fengfan Zhang, 27; and Zhiyong Zhang, 30, were research scholars with J-1 visas who were working at the UM laboratory of Xianzhong Xu, commonly known as the Shawn Xu laboratory, according to a press release.
In 2024 and 2025, Bai and F. Zhang allegedly received shipments containing concealed biological materials related to round worms from China to the United States by Chengxuan Han, a Chinese citizen. Han was a Ph.D. student at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.
In June, Han traveled to the United States to work in the laboratory at UM. She pleaded no contest to three counts of smuggling and one count of false statements. She was sentenced and then removed from the United States.
Bai and F. Zhang allegedly later told CBP officers they had gotten packages from Han after her arrest or removal from the United States.
"Allegedly attempting to smuggle biological materials under the guise of 'research' is a serious crime that threatens America's national and agricultural security," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement.
"We will remain vigilant to threats like these from foreign nationals who would take advantage of America's generosity to advance a malicious agenda."