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.
“Allegedly attempting to smuggle biological materials under the guise of ‘research’ is a serious crime that threatens America’s national and agricultural security,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said 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.”
Jerome Gorgon, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said the three men charged are part of a “long and alarming pattern of criminal activities committed by Chinese Nationals under the cover of the University of Michigan.”
“At some point, pattern becomes practice,” Gorgon said in a statement, describing the alleged smuggling effort as a “threat to our collective security.”
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 Michigan’s Xianzhong Xu (Shawn Xu) laboratory, according to authorities.
Between 2024 and 2025, Bai and Fengfan Zhang received multiple shipments from China containing “concealed biological materials related to round worms.”
The worms, which had “genetic modifications,” 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.
The couple – Zunyong Liu and Yunqing Jian – had intended to use the University of Michigan lab “to further their scheme,” according to prosecutors.
“After Han’s arrest and removal from the United States, UM initiated an internal investigation into the Shawn Xu laboratory,” according to the Justice Department. “All three defendants refused to attend a mandatory meeting or participate in the investigation and so were terminated.”
After being fired, Bai, Fengfan Zhang and Zhiyong Zhang booked flights out of both Detroit Metropolitan Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport back to China.
The trio didn’t show up for the flight out of Detroit, or cancel the booking, and instead traveled to the New York City airport, where they were interviewed by federal law enforcement agents.
“Z. Zhang made false statements about Han,” according to prosecutors. “Bai and F. Zhang told [Customs and Border Protection] officers they had received packages from Han including after her arrest or removal from the United States.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said the charges demonstrate that federal authorities will “aggressively investigate and hold accountable those who violate our laws, and that academic research cannot excuse illegal activity.
“The Chinese nationals charged today allegedly were involved in smuggling biological materials into the US on several occasions. The FBI and our partners are committed to defending the homeland and stopping any illegal smuggling into our country,” Patel added.
The case was investigated by agents with the FBI, CBP, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
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