3 chink researchers at University of Michigan charged with conspiracy to smuggle biological materials into the US from China
(nypost.com)https://nypost.com/2025/11/06/us-news/3-chinese-researchers-at-university-of-michigan-charged-over-alleged-effort-to-smuggle-biological-materials/ Three Chinese nationals working at a University of Michigan research lab were hit with federal charges Tuesday related to an alleged conspiracy to smuggle biological material into the United States for China.
The charges are the latest in a series of cases tied to the Ann Arbor, Mich. school that have raised concerns about the threat of biological terrorism emanating from China.
Jerome Gorgon, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said the three men charged are part of a âlong and alarming pattern of criminal activities committed by Chinese Nationals under the cover of the University of Michigan.â
Xu Bai, 28, and Fengfan Zhang, 27, were charged with conspiracy to smuggle biological materials into the US.
Zhiyong Zhang, 30, was charged with making false statements to federal agents about the alleged scheme.
All three men were J-1 visa holders and had been conducting research at the University of Michiganâs Xianzhong Xu (Shawn Xu) laboratory, according to authorities.
Between 2024 and 2025, Bai and Fengfan Zhang received multiple shipments from China containing âconcealed biological materials related to round worms.â
The worms, which had âgenetic modifications,â had been sent by Chengxuan Han, a Ph.D student in Wuhan who later came to the US to work at the same University of Michigan lab.
Han was charged with smuggling and making false statements in June. She pleaded no contest and was removed from the US in September and barred from re-entering.
The same month Han was arrested, a Chinese national couple was hit with criminal charges related to an alleged effort to smuggle a dangerous fungus into the US capable of destroying crops and poisoning humans and livestock.
Ph.D. student from Wuhan... what a coincidence. Or is it a cohencidence?
