Three Chinese national research scholars from the University of Michigan have been charged in a federal case involving the illegal smuggling of biological materials into the United States.
According to the Department of Justice, Xu Bai (28), Fengfan Zhang (27), and Zhiyong Zhang (30), all Chinese nationals working in the University of Michigan’s “Shawn Xu Laboratory,” were arrested and formally charged for their roles in the conspiracy.
Federal prosecutors allege that Bai and Fengfan Zhang conspired to smuggle restricted biological materials into the U.S., while Zhiyong Zhang faces charges of making false statements to federal agents during the investigation.
All three were research scholars holding J-1 visas, temporary research visas often used by foreign nationals conducting work at U.S. universities.
The laboratory where the trio worked, led by Dr. Xianzhong “Shawn” Xu, has been engaged in advanced biomedical and neurobiological research.
Federal authorities have not yet disclosed the exact nature of the biological materials involved, but officials emphasized the grave national security implications of the case.
Hellbound and Down 