Latest news with #EasternDistrict
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Chinese couple charged with smuggling toxic fungus into US
US federal prosecutors have charged two Chinese nationals with smuggling a toxic fungus into the United States, which authorities claim could be turned into a 'potential agroterrorism weapon'. The charges against Jian Yunqing, 33, and Liu Zunyong, 34, two researchers from China, were unsealed by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan on Tuesday. The pair face additional charges of conspiracy, visa fraud and providing false statements to investigators. Prosecutors allege that Liu smuggled the fungus, called Fusarium graminearum, into the US so he could carry out research at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Jian, worked. Fusarium graminearum causes 'head blight', a disease in crops like wheat, barley, maize and rice, and is 'responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year', according to the charges. The pathogen also poses a danger to humans and livestock, and can cause 'vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects'. The investigation was carried out by US Customs and Border Protection and the FBI, whose mandate includes investigating foreign and economic espionage as well as counterterrorism. Jian was earlier arrested by the FBI and is due to appear in federal court this week, where her ties to the Chinese government are also under scrutiny at a time of increased paranoia within the US government about possible Chinese infiltration. Jian allegedly received funding from the Chinese government to carry out research on the same toxic fungus in China, according to the charges. The Associated Press news agency, citing the FBI, said that Liu was sent back to China from Detroit in July 2024 after airport customs authorities found the fungus in his backpack. He later admitted to bringing the material into the US to carry out research at the University of Michigan, where he had previously worked alongside his girlfriend, the AP said. During their investigation, the FBI found an article on Liu's phone titled 'Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions'. Messages on the couple's phones also indicated that Jian was aware of the smuggling scheme, and later lied to investigators about her knowledge. It is unlikely that Liu will face extradition as the US does not have an extradition treaty with China. FBI director Kash Patel claimed on X that China was 'working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences'. New… I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country. The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called "Fusarium graminearum," which is an… — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025 The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The University of Michigan on Tuesday issued a brief statement condemning 'any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security, or undermine the university's critical public mission'. The case comes just a week after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to start 'aggressively' revoking the visas of Chinese students in the US on national security grounds. Targeted students include Chinese nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), an institution that counts about 100 million members. While some Chinese may join for ideological reasons, membership in the CCP comes with perks like access to better jobs and educational opportunities. It is not uncommon for students from elite backgrounds, like those studying in the US, to also be members of the CCP. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously pledged to 'firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests' of its students studying overseas following news of the visa crackdown.
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Union head Tony Clark, MLBPA hire separate lawyers in face of federal probe
In the face of a federal investigation, Tony Clark and the union he runs, the Major League Baseball Players Association, have hired separate lawyers. The Eastern District of New York is reviewing whether MLBPA officials used licensing money or equity to improperly enrich themselves, according to people briefed on the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly. That could put the union and its membership in a place where they have divergent interests. Advertisement 'In close coordination with the players, MLBPA has hired outside counsel at Morrison & Foerster to respond to an investigation conducted by the Department of Justice,' the MLPBA said in a statement Tuesday. 'The MLBPA has, and will continue to, fully cooperate with law enforcement during this investigation.' Clark's outside counsel, Daniel Collins of Katten, Muchin and Rosenman, declined comment. The Eastern District of New York declined comment as well. The full scope of the probe is unclear, but investigators have also communicated with the National Football League's players' union and a licensing company co-founded by both unions, OneTeam Partners, the people briefed on the investigation said. In a statement it first issued last week, OneTeam positioned itself outside of investigators' crosshairs. 'We are aware of an ongoing investigation of allegations concerning our partners,' OneTeam said. 'We want to emphasize that OneTeam is not the subject of the investigation and has not been accused of any wrongdoing in any way. OneTeam is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation and remains steadfast in our commitment to following the best business practices, as has already been determined by the independent audit conducted earlier this year.' The NFLPA declined comment on Tuesday and said last week it would cooperate with investigators. The MLBPA co-founded OneTeam, a company that specializes in athletes' name, image and likeness rights, in 2019 alongside other sports unions and backers. Last year, an anonymous complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that Clark had wrongly received equity in OTP. The MLBPA has previously called that allegation 'baseless.' A similar concern, however, arose in football. The NFLPA in December hired the firm Linklaters to review, in part, whether OneTeam had improperly granted equity, said people briefed on that process who were not authorized to speak publicly. The NFLPA did not disclose its findings publicly, but Lloyd Howell, the head of the union, in March notified OneTeam's board of directors that Linklater's report found the NFLPA and OneTeam had been in compliance, per an email reviewed by The Athletic. Advertisement Collins, Clark's attorney, is a former federal prosecutor who 'regularly defends clients in investigations conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other government agencies,' per his firm's website. Clark and Howell both sit on the board of directors at OneTeam. Two other MLBPA officials and three other NFLPA officials do as well, per the company's website. The MLBPA reported $44.5 million in revenue from OneTeam in 2024, per a filing with the Department of Labor. (AP Photo / Godofredo Vásquez )
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Brit dad 'caught spying for China' as he 'called Xi Jinping the boss in calls'
John Miller, 63, is accused of conspiring with US-based Chinese national Cui Guanghai, 43 after he was arrested in a sting involving undercover FBI agents A British businessman has been arrested in an alleged Chinese spy plot, and is accused of trying to smuggle sensitive US military technology to Beijing. John Miller, 63, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was arrested on April 24 while on a business trip to Belgrade, Serbia, as part of a sting involving undercover FBI agents. Miller is accused of conspiring with US-based Chinese national, Cui Guanghai, 43. If convicted, both men could face up to 40 years in prison. A number of intercepted phone calls showed Miller referred to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as 'The Boss', court documents reportedly allege. The FBI said this demonstrated his 'awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government'. Documents filed at the Eastern District Court of Wisconsin in Milwaukee reportedly allege Miller tried to buy military hardware in the US for the People's Liberation Army, including missile launchers, air defence radars and Black Hornet 'microdrone'. Other equipment he allegedly attempted to obtain included a hand-held device for the secure communication of 'classified and sensitive national security information'. The pair are also accused of mounting a surveillance and harassment operation against a Chinese-American artist to stop him from protesting during a visit by Xi to San Francisco in November 2023. US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said: "The defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. "This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. The Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems." Miller and Cui also allegedly hired two people to buy an 'embarrassing' sculpture the artist made to prevent the artist from displaying the work during a protest. But unbeknown to Miller the two people he hired were actually FBI investigators. FBI deputy director Dan Bongino said: "The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticised the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America. The same individuals are also charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive US military technology to China. "I want to commend the good work of the FBI and our partners in the US and overseas in putting a stop to these illegal activities." Court papers claim Miller returned from a trip to China in June 2023 boasting to undercover agents that he had met senior government officials and that the visit 'couldn't have gone better". The two men remain in Serbia and the US is co-ordinating with Serbian officials regarding their pending extraditions. Last night, the Foreign Office said: "We are providing consular assistance to a British national following his arrest in Serbia in April and are in touch with the local authorities and his family."
TechCrunch
6 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
How a decade-old patent dispute could upend Uber's business
A little-known patent infringement lawsuit could have big implications for Uber — and potentially dozens of other companies. Carma Technology, a company formed in 2007 by serial entrepreneur and SOSV Ventures founder Sean O'Sullivan, filed a lawsuit earlier this year against Uber alleging the company infringed on five of its patents that are related to the system of matching riders (or packages) with capacity in vehicles. In other words, ride-sharing — a business Carma operated in some form for a decade until it changed its business model and applied its tech to road-pricing services like GPS tolling and HOV verification. Carma has requested a jury trial and is seeking a permanent injunction against the company, mandatory future royalties on any Uber products that infringe on those patents as well as damages, and other costs related to the lawsuit. The lawsuit, which has been quietly winding its way through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, is relatively new. The allegations have been swirling for nearly a decade. Carma lawyers first contacted Uber about its ride-sharing and ground transportation patents in 2016, according to the complaint. That was an auspicious time for Uber. The startup, which was founded just seven years before, had shot into the stratosphere — in terms of valuation, growth, and gravitas. Uber was valued at $66 billion at the time, and had a reputation for taking big, legally sticky swings into new markets that helped it grow to hundreds of cities in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and the Middle East. It had raised more than $12.5 billion in venture capital, and was using it to launch new products and even push into autonomous vehicles. Uber might have had the business model and the market share, but it didn't have the specific ride-sharing patents, O'Sullivan told TechCrunch in a recent interview. Carma does — plus a couple dozen others. Uber was allegedly aware of that fact as early as 2015 when the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected one of its applications because it ran up against existing patents held by O'Sullivan and Carma, according to the lawsuit. Techcrunch event Save now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI Save $300 on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW At least four of Uber's patent applications — and in some cases numerous revisions to those patents — were rejected between 2016 and 2019 for the same reason. The ride-share giant would eventually abandon some of those applications. Uber still holds hundreds of other patents covering a broad swath of technology and ideas that have been applied to its business. O'Sullivan argues the core service of what Carma's patents describes is exactly how the modern day ride-sharing experience operates. And he contends that Uber is infringing on those patents even if the company's business model operates more like a taxi business. The case is a complicated one, intellectual property attorney Larry Ashery told TechCrunch. (Ashery is not involved in the case.) 'What's important to understand here is Carma isn't just asserting five patents,' said Ashery, whose practice is based in Greater Philadelphia area. 'They have had a very sophisticated strategy of patent procurement that they've been working on for the past 18 years.' He noted the five patents are part of a 30-patent family that are all related and connected to the original filing date. That matters because each of the five asserted patents contains multiple patent claims, which define the legal boundaries of the invention. These individual claims — not just the patents as a whole — are what Carma is asserting against Uber. That means Uber will have to address and defend against each asserted claim, making the litigation more complex and difficult to defeat, he noted. Ashery said Uber's strategy will likely be to try an invalidate these patents, which will be a challenge. A nine-year gap Image Credits:Carma While Carma might have been armed with these specific patents, it took nine years for the company to actually sue Uber. Bunsow De Mory, a Redwood City-based law firm, is representing Carma in the case. 'When any business starts, it's all about just actually capturing the market and winning in the marketplace,' O'Sullivan said. 'Patents are meant to protect against aggressors from stealing the idea, but it's not the main focus of your business to get patent revenue. It's more as a protective mechanism.' Carma, he said, has been 'very busy building a multi-million dollar business and getting to profitability.' But there are other reasons for that nine-year time gap, O'Sullivan explained. For one, the cost. 'It's incredibly expensive to sue a large company over IP and Carma is a relatively small organization,' he said in a recent interview. 'To come up with the $10 million-plus to take on a big patent suit, which is what it takes these days, is not a small task.' O'Sullivan said the company did reach out to Uber as far back as 2016 'in the hopes that they would do the right thing and license our patents.' 'It really took us a while to come to terms with the idea that we actually had to sue Uber in order for them to respond,' he added. Uber declined to comment on the lawsuit. Uber's attorneys did make two procedural motions this week, including a sealed motion to dismiss for improper venue or alternatively to transfer venue for convenience. This procedural motion signals Uber's desire for the case to be litigated in the Northern District of California, where it is based, rather than in Texas. Notably, the lawsuit is aimed at Uber, not Lyft or other companies using ride-sharing. O'Sullivan explained Carma is 'going after the biggest player first' and noted that about 60 other companies are likely infringing on its patents. The five-patent argument The primary argument in the lawsuit ties back to five patents that have been granted to O'Sullivan and Carma, which was originally named Avego. It all started with O'Sullivan's frustration with traffic congestion, which ultimately led to thoughts about car-pooling and how an automated system using smartphones could help people coordinate rides. That idea would turn into the startup Avego and become the basis of the first patent — No. 7,840,427. The first patent, which O'Sullivan applied for in 2007 and was granted in 2010, created a shared transport system that matches empty space in a vehicle with riders or goods. The system established a set of pick-up and drop-off points and then matched users and drivers traveling along a similar route. Before the patent was granted Avego's ride-sharing app debuted on Apple's App Store in 2008, the same year the iPhone launched. Avego showed off its so-called Shared Transport app at the DEMO conference in 2008, which showed how a driver with an iPhone 3G could use the app to accept or reject a ride request. Once accepted, the rider was notified as the driver approached and then was prompted to enter a pin code to prove their identity and authorize an electronic payment. Avego, which would later change its name to Carma, was focused on the promotion of ride-sharing (as in carpooling) and not taxis, according to O'Sullivan. The company operated the carpooling business until October 2016, when the app was withdrawn from the App store. However, it still had other forms of ride-sharing, like its partnership with Toyota, until phasing it out altogether in April 2018. 'If you look at the definition of ride-sharing in federal legislation, it is carpooling,' O'Sullivan said, noting that Carma built up a multi-million dollar ride-sharing business in its early days. When Uber and Lyft came in and tried to co-opt the term ride-sharing to mean taxi-hailing it caused confusion in the market, prompting Carma to change its business model and apply its tech in new ways. 'Uber and Lyft really took ride-sharing in the direction of taxi services, but our company Carma didn't want to,' O'Sullivan said. Carma is still focused on reducing traffic congestion, but its tech is applied to a different business model. Today, Carma uses its app to help transit authorities manage tolls and express lanes — a product line the company first rolled out in 2013. For instance, the app can be used by a driver on a toll road or even track vehicle occupancy for HOV lanes. The app is designed to get more riders into cars and reward those people by reducing tolls or giving drivers access to the HOV lane. The idea, O'Sullivan said, is to offer toll authorities a way to reduce capital expenditure by up to 20 times by not using large gantry-based infrastructure systems. And it has paid off. O'Sullivan says Carma is profitable, although pursuing this lawsuit will cut into its bottom line. Still, he said it's worth the cost. 'I think there's a danger in society where we can't rely on our patents to protect the rights of of the inventors, and the patent system exists specifically to protect the rights of investors, not to reward copycats that just have happen to have deeper pockets,' he said, pointing to Uber's attempts at its own patents and the rejection of them by the USPTO. 'We think it's something that's important to recognize that the rights of a relatively small inventor, are being trampled upon. But it's not just for Carma, really. We think of this as a problem for the entire system. It's a test of whether the rule of law still applies when a powerful tech giant is involved.'
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
Former U.S. Postal Service employees charged in $63M stolen check scheme
Four people, including two former U.S. Postal Service employees, have been charged with their alleged involvement in a $63 million scheme involving checks that were stolen from the mail and then resold. The stolen checks included Internal Revenue Service refunds issued by the U.S. Treasury. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan's announcement Friday cited the lead role of the U.S. Postal Service on the investigation, with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor. Jaiswan Williams, 31, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Dequan Foreman, 30, of Eastpointe, Michigan, Vanessa Hargrove, 39, of Detroit, and Crystal Jenkins, 31, of Detroit, all were charged with conspiracy to aid and abet bank and wire fraud. If convicted, the four face up to 30 years in prison. Williams also faces charges related to money laundering and fraudulent pandemic unemployment insurance benefit claims. Hargrove and Jenkins were United States Postal Service employees, the district attorney's office said. Williams and Foreman were the administrators of the online marketplaces on Telegram Messenger, which is an instant messaging application. The district attorney's office explained that the scheme involved the online sale of stolen checks. The resale price depended on the face value of the check. The purchases were made via a variety of electronic payment platforms. Those who purchased the checks would then attempt to fraudulently cash them. "This investigation represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG special agents, working with the U.S. Attorney's Office and other federal agencies, to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation," Tammy Hull, Inspector General U.S. Postal Service, said in a statement about the case.
