logo
Wuhan Researcher Charged With Smuggling Biological Materials Into US Lab

Wuhan Researcher Charged With Smuggling Biological Materials Into US Lab

Epoch Times20 hours ago

U.S. prosecutors have charged another Chinese national for smuggling biological materials into the United States and lying about the scheme.
Han Chengxuan, a PhD candidate from Wuhan in central China, was

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pics: Dead Democrat congressman mysteriously still sending fundraising emails
Pics: Dead Democrat congressman mysteriously still sending fundraising emails

American Military News

time2 hours ago

  • American Military News

Pics: Dead Democrat congressman mysteriously still sending fundraising emails

Pictures shared on social media by a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informant show that fundraising emails are still being sent out on behalf of former Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who died last month from esophageal cancer. According to Connolly died in May at the age of 75. The outlet reported that the Democrat congressman's death came just weeks after he confirmed that his esophageal cancer had returned following 'grueling' cancer treatments since his initial diagnosis in 2024. Despite Connolly's death in May, Kamran Fareedi, a former FBI informant, has reported that the Democrat congressman's campaign is continuing to send fundraising emails to Connolly's supporters. READ MORE: Democrat governor vetoes bill limiting Chinese land near US bases Sharing pictures of the fundraising emails Fareedi has continued to receive from Connolly's campaign following the congressman's death, the former FBI informant tweeted, 'Why am I getting emails from @GerryConnolly's campaign AFTER he has passed away? Beyond unethical.' In another post, Fareedi wrote, 'For those unfamiliar, former Connolly campaign operatives are trying to coronate his former Chief of Staff as the successor to Connolly's congressional seat, who would probably hold the office and rule over Fairfax County constituents for the next few decades.' Fareedi claimed that a Democrat primary process is scheduled to begin in 'just 22 days at polling places that still haven't even been announced' and that whoever is responsible for overseeing the deceased Democrat congressman's campaign infrastructure is trying to use it to 'secure James Walkinshaw the nomination.' The former FBI informant shared a screenshot of one of the fundraising emails, explaining that each of the fundraising emails he received has ended with a paragraph regarding Connolly's death last month. The fundraising email noted that Connolly died 'after a courageous battle with cancer' on May 21. The email also stated, 'Before his passing, Gerry formally endorsed his longtime advisor, former Chief of Staff and current Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw, to succeed him in Congress and continue the work they began together.' A party run primary process is being held in just 22 days at polling places that still haven't even been announced. Meanwhile, whoever is controlling the @GerryConnolly campaign infrastructure is using it to try and secure James Walkinshaw the nomination. The emails end with: — Kamran Fareedi (@fareedi_kamran) June 6, 2025 Commenting on the continued use of the deceased Democrat congressman's fundraising infrastructure, Fareedi wrote, 'Seems incredibly unethical and disrespectful to the deceased.'

Chinese national with University of Michigan ties charged for smuggling bio material into U.S.
Chinese national with University of Michigan ties charged for smuggling bio material into U.S.

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Chinese national with University of Michigan ties charged for smuggling bio material into U.S.

University of Michigan | Susan J. Demas A citizen of the People's Republic of China was arrested and charged with smuggling concealed biological material into the U.S. from a university in Wuhan, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced Monday. The arrest of Chengxuan Han, who is currently pursuing a doctorate degree from the College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, is the third such arrest in the last few weeks related to smuggling of biological agents into the country involving the University of Michigan. 'The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China — to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory — is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security,' said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Jerome Gorgon Jr. in a statement. 'The American taxpayer should not be underwriting a PRC-based smuggling operation at one of our crucial public institutions.' Han is alleged to have sent four packages with concealed biological material to the U.S. in 2024 and 2025. The packages were addressed to people associated with a laboratory at U of M. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended Han on Sunday after she arrived at Detroit Metro Airport on a J1 visa. Officers inspected Han and noted that Han made false statements about the packages and the material she had previously shipped to the U.S. The content of an electronic device Han possessed was deleted three days prior to her arrival in the U.S. this week, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Han was next interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during which Han admitted to sending the packages and that they contained biological material related to round worms. She also admitted to making false statements to CBP officers during her initial inspection. 'The FBI has zero tolerance for those who violate federal law and remains unwavering in our mission to protect the American people,' Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said in a statement. 'The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation's research institutions.'' The Detroit News reported that Han was the third Chinese national with connections to U of M charged with a federal crime in the last two weeks. The FBI recently charged student Yunqing Jian and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, for attempting to smuggle biological pathogens into the country, which the agency said could be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon affecting food crops.

Chinese Bank Scandal Victims Attacked by Security While Petitioning Over Frozen Accounts, Source Says
Chinese Bank Scandal Victims Attacked by Security While Petitioning Over Frozen Accounts, Source Says

Epoch Times

time5 hours ago

  • Epoch Times

Chinese Bank Scandal Victims Attacked by Security While Petitioning Over Frozen Accounts, Source Says

Victims of a years-long banking scandal in central China were violently attacked by security personnel last week while petitioning authorities over their frozen savings, according to a protester who shared what he witnessed at the scene with the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times. The crisis began in April 2022, when several rural banks in Henan Province collapsed, affecting approximately 400,000 depositors. Protester Xiao Mei, who used a pseudonym out of fear of retaliation by authorities, recently told The Epoch Times that on May 28, a group of account holders—including Ba Zhongjun and his wife, whose family was among the most affected—traveled to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, hoping to appeal directly to a central government inspection team. According to Xiao, they were intercepted in the Jinshui district by black-clad security personnel, who beat several of them in broad daylight. Xiao said Ba's wife and another woman were surrounded and assaulted by more than a dozen men, who also seized their phones. Ba's wife sustained an arm injury. 'The entire scene was chaotic,' Xiao said. Two days later, plainclothes police and security agents forcibly entered the hotel room where Ba was staying with his wife, their 6-year-old son, and his mother-in-law. According to a source familiar with the incident, Ba was restrained, and his phone was confiscated. Ba, his wife, child, and mother-in-law were then forced into a vehicle and taken back to Shanghai, where the couple work as migrant laborers. Related Stories 7/12/2022 6/23/2022 'The police weren't dressed in uniform—they were trying to avoid recognition,' the source, who used the pseudonym Yu Ming, told The Epoch Times. 'The child was so terrified he didn't dare to say a word.' Despite multiple rounds of promised repayments and ongoing investigations since 2022, many victims have seen little resolution. Protests in Zhengzhou and other cities have been met with Yu described the Ba family's situation as 'tragic.' Their 2 million yuan in savings—earned over decades by four elderly parents working as farmers—was suddenly frozen by the bank. Ba's mother is seriously ill and requires medical treatment, while both Ba and his wife are unemployed and struggling to support their son, who has just started primary school, Yu said. Recently, Ba's wife had an abortion because the family could not afford to raise a second child. 'Their family is on the brink of ruin,' Yu said. Authorities have repeatedly pressured depositors to sign settlement agreements, but according to Yu, some legal experts warn that these documents could waive the depositors' rights to further legal action. 'These so-called settlements are traps,' Yu said. 'Once you sign, it's considered an admission of guilt. It's extremely risky even if you later try to sue the bank.' As a result, most depositors have refused to sign, he said. The agreements contain clauses barring petitioners from invoking China's Contract Law or any legal grounds for defending their rights, according to legal experts Yu consulted. 'Ordinary people can't understand these legal tricks,' Yu said. 'They're full of provisions that hurt depositors.' Authorities have also employed harsh tactics—including detention, criminal charges, and extended prison sentences—to pressure victims and their families into backing down, according to Yu. 'They show wives and mothers videos of their loved ones suffering in detention,' Yu said. 'Of course, they break down and beg them to sign. It's ruthless.' Despite the ongoing repression, Yu said the victims are 'resilient and determined.' 'For over three years, they've fought for the return of their life savings—money they need to feed their families,' he said. 'If they don't get their money back, they'll keep fighting to the end.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store