Three Chinese researchers affiliated with the University of Michigan have been charged in a widening federal investigation into the smuggling of biological materials into the United States. The case, handled by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, adds to a growing list of incidents involving Chinese nationals accused of illicitly transferring biological samples or data across borders.
According to court filings, the three accused — Xu Bai, 28, Fengfan Zhang, 27, and Zhiyong Zhang, 30 — were in the U.S. on J-1 exchange scholar visas and resided in Ann Arbor. Bai and Fengfan Zhang face conspiracy to smuggle charges, while Zhiyong Zhang has been charged with making false statements to federal authorities. Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Detroit office led the probe, working with the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of its National Security Global Trade initiative.
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon described the case as part of a broader trend of espionage-related and biosecurity violations linked to individuals from China. “At some point, pattern becomes practice. And apparently, these three men are part of a long and alarming pattern of criminal activities committed by Chinese nationals under the cover of the University of Michigan,” he said, calling it “a threat to our collective security.”
The charges stem from an earlier case involving another Chinese national, Chengxuan Han, who was arrested in June at Detroit Metro Airport. Han had been accused of attempting to ship undeclared biological materials — including petri dishes containing genetically modified roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) — from China to Michigan. She pleaded no contest to smuggling and false-statement charges in September and was deported soon after.
Investigators discovered that one of Han’s intercepted shipments was addressed to Xu Bai’s apartment in Ann Arbor. Other parcels linked to Han were sent to addresses associated with Fengfan Zhang, sometimes under the alias “Dylan Zhang.” When Han was detained, both Fengfan and Zhiyong Zhang were present at the airport to receive her. Initially, Han denied knowing Bai or sending the shipments, but later admitted to mailing between five and ten packages to the U.S.
Following the discovery, the University of Michigan initiated an internal investigation. According to court documents, the three men refused to cooperate and were subsequently terminated from their research positions. The university revoked its J-1 visa sponsorships on October 8, making them out of legal status and subject to deportation.
When the suspects missed a flight to China on October 15, they reportedly booked new tickets from New York’s JFK Airport the next day. Federal agents intercepted them before departure, taking them into custody for immigration violations and further questioning.
Prosecutors allege the trio intended to transport or work with biological materials without proper disclosure or licensing, a violation of U.S. import and biosafety regulations. If convicted, Bai and Fengfan Zhang face up to 20 years in federal prison for smuggling offences, while Zhiyong Zhang could face up to five years for making false statements.
The University of Michigan, one of the country’s leading public research institutions, has yet to issue a detailed statement beyond confirming cooperation with federal authorities. The case underscores growing concerns in Washington about biosecurity breaches and intellectual property theft tied to academic collaborations with Chinese researchers, a topic that has intensified amid broader U.S.-China geopolitical tensions.
