Detroit, MI. — Three visiting research scholars from the People’s Republic of China have been charged with conspiracy to smuggle biological materials into the United States and making false statements to U.S. officials, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced that Xu Bai, 28, Fengfan Zhang, 27, and Zhiyong Zhang, 30, all research scholars at the University of Michigan, face criminal charges stemming from a federal investigation into the university’s international research activities.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “Allegedly attempting to smuggle biological materials under the guise of ‘research’ is a serious crime that threatens America’s national and agricultural security.”
According to court filings, the defendants received multiple shipments of concealed biological samples—believed to involve roundworm materials—sent from Chengxuan Han, a Chinese national from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. Han, who previously worked in the same Michigan lab, pleaded no contest earlier this year to smuggling and false statement charges and was subsequently deported.
After Han’s removal, the University of Michigan launched an internal investigation of the Shawn Xu laboratory, where all three defendants had been conducting research. When the scholars refused to cooperate, they were terminated and became subject to removal proceedings.
Federal agents later intercepted the men attempting to leave the country from John F. Kennedy International Airport in October 2025. Investigators allege that they made false statements to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers regarding their activities and connections to Han.
“Educational institutions must enhance their admissions procedures to prevent exploitation, which can pose risks to national security,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that “academic research cannot excuse illegal activity,” while FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan said the case “reflects our firm commitment to protecting the American people and defending the homeland.”
The investigation was led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and CBP, with assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Detroit.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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