**OAN Staff Taylor Tinsley
2:15 PM Thursday, November 6, 2025**
A growing number of Chinese scholars are facing federal charges in connection with smuggling dangerous biological materials into the United States, all tied to the University of Michigan.
Three research scholars were charged as part of an ongoing smuggling investigation, according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Wednesday. Xu Bai, 28, and Fengfan Zhang, 27, were charged with conspiracy to smuggle biological materials into the United States. The third, Zhiyong Zhang, 30, was charged with making false statements to federal agents.
All three men were in the U.S. on J-1 visas through the University of Michigan. The J-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa commonly issued to professors, scholars, students, and other exchange visitors.
According to the criminal complaint, Bai and Fengfan Zhang received multiple shipments containing concealed biological materials related to roundworms in 2024 and 2025. These shipments were sent from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the U.S. by Chengxuan Han, 28.
Han was arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers following an inspection at Detroit Metro Airport in June. Investigators later discovered she sent four packages from China containing concealed biological materials to individuals associated with a laboratory at the university.
Han pleaded no contest to three smuggling charges and making false statements. She was ordered to return to China and left the U.S. in September.
During a CBP inspection, Zhiyong Zhang made false statements about Han, while Bai and Fengfan Zhang admitted to officers that they had received packages from Han.
Prior to Han’s June arrest, two other Chinese researchers at the university, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were charged with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud in connection with bringing a fungus called *Fusarium graminearum* into the U.S. Scientific literature classifies this fungus as a potential agroterrorism weapon.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will not allow foreign nationals to take advantage of America’s generosity.
The DOJ also revealed that the University of Michigan initiated an internal investigation into its Shawn Xu Laboratory following Han’s removal. However, the university has not responded to One America News regarding whether new policies, enhanced vetting procedures, or additional oversight measures are being implemented to prevent a recurrence.
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