Latest news with #USAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese nationals accused of smuggling 'dangerous biological pathogen' into US
Two Chinese nationals have been accused of smuggling a fungus into the US that officials describe as a "dangerous biological pathogen". Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods, false statements, and visa fraud, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced on Tuesday. The complaint alleges Mr Liu tried to smuggle the fungus through Detroit airport so he could study it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Ms Jian, worked. The fungus called Fusarium graminearum can cause a disease in wheat, barley, maize and rice that can wipe out crops and lead to vomiting and liver damage if it gets into food. The fungus is described in scientific literature as a "potential agroterrorism weapon", according to the US Attorney's Office, adding it is responsible for "billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year." Officials further allege Ms Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the pathogen in China. They also claim she is a member of the Chinese Communist Party. United States Attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr described the allegations as of the "gravest national security concerns". "These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into in the [sic] heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme." The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and US Customs and Border Protection. Ms Jian is due to appear in court in Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday. The BBC has reached out to the University of Michigan and the Chinese embassy in Washington DC for comment. The charges come amid strained relations between the US and China, and just days after the Trump administration vowed to "aggressively" revoke the visas of Chinese nationals studying in the US. Beijing also said Washington "severely violated" a trade truce reached in Geneva last month, when both countries lowered tariffs on goods imported from each other. Earlier this week, a Chinese student at the University of Michigan was charged for illegally voting in the October 2024 election. Harvard Chinese grad speech draws praise and ire Hegseth warns China poses 'imminent' threat to Taiwan and urges Asia to boost defence US and China struggle for dominance as officials meet for Shangri-La Dialogue
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Multiple Orlando men plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs
According to a press release from the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, three men from Orange County pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. The press release indicates that Bradley D. Burch (34, Apopka), Ronald E. Hubbard Jr. (37, Apopka), and Douglas E. Arnett Jr. (33, Orlando) have entered guilty pleas regarding a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, a fentanyl analog and methamphetamine. Throughout the conspiracy, the suspects distributed nearly 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 350 grams of fentanyl or fentanyl analog mixtures. In some of these deals, Burch was also seen with a firearm, either nearby or in his waistband. Hubbard and Arnett each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, with a possible life term, in federal prison. Burch faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with a possible life term, in federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program uniting law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime, gun violence and improve neighborhood safety. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Indian man pleads guilty to Green Card marriage scam in US
A 29-year-old Indian national living unlawfully in the US has pleaded guilty to marriage fraud aimed at fraudulently obtaining a Green Card, a patch to American citizenship. He overstayed his visa and falsified documents to support a fraudulent marriage. When the plan failed, he falsely claimed domestic abuse to remain in the US Attorney's Office has announced that Aakash Prakash Makwana pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Makwana was unlawfully living in Ronceverte, West Virginia. The 29-year-old admitted that he committed the offence as part of a scheme to marry a US citizen to evade US immigration laws, US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a initially entered the US on a J-1 non-immigrant visa, intended for work in the hospitality and culinary fields. Since the visa was only valid for one year, he collaborated with others in a scheme to marry a US citizen in order to stay in the country illegally. The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that lets foreign nationals come to the US to participate in educational, cultural, or professional exchange programmes for a short CONSPIRED TO MARRY US CITIZEN TO GET A GREEN CARDAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Makwana arrived in the US on a J-1 nonimmigrant visa on November 23, 2019. As part of his guilty plea, Makwana admitted that he knew the J-1 visa was valid for one year and that he remained in the US after the visa was not extended and expired on November 24, August 2021, Makwana conspired with others to marry a US citizen for $10,000 (approximately Rs 8.32 lakh) so he could apply for lawful permanent resident status, also known as a Green was living in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and working without legal authorisation. As part of the scheme, Makwana married a US citizen on September 3, 2021, falsified a residential lease agreement to make it appear that he and the US citizen lived together, and added the US citizen's name to his utility bills and bank accounts, the statement admitted he committed aggravated identity theft when he included the name and signature of the residential property's manager on the falsified lease agreement without the property manager's MAKES FALSE CLAIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCEAfter the marriage scheme fell through, Makwana submitted a Form I-360 to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, alleging that he was a victim of domestic violence and emotional abuse by his US citizen partner. Makwana admitted that he falsely claimed in the petition that he suffered domestic violence and emotional abuse at the hands of the US citizen he married as part of the fraud further admitted that he filed the petition to continue to stay in the US while his claims were considered and to increase his chances of obtaining a Green Card, according to the is set to be sentenced on September 26. He could face prison time, financial penalties, and possible deportation from America.
ITV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
British man charged in US with spying for China
A British man, from Tunbridge Wells, has been charged in the US with spying after allegedly trying to smuggle US military technology to China. John Miller, 63, is accused of interstate stalking, conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act. The Justice Department said the US is seeking to extradite Mr Miller from Serbia, along with his co-accused, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China. Court documents released by the US Attorney's Office said the pair tried to get hold of missiles, air defence radar and drones for unlawful export to China. It said they paid around 10,000 dollars (£7,400) as a deposit for the equipment via a courier in the US and a wire transfer to a US bank account. The two men are said to have discussed ways to export a cryptographic device from the US to China, including concealing the device in a blender, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. The most serious offence they are accused of – violation of the Arms Export Control Act – carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The two men are also said to have been part of a plot to prevent an individual who had been critical of China's President Xi Jinping from protesting his appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November 2023. In the weeks leading up to the Apec summit, they are accused of coordinating an interstate scheme to conduct surveillance on the victim by installing a tracking device on his car and slashing its tyres. Another offence relates to the spring of this year, when the dissenter announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of Mr Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, the accused are said to have paid two other individuals approximately 36,500 dollars (£27,010) to convince the victim to desist from the online display of the statues. These two individuals were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said: 'As alleged, 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. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. 'We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.'US attorney Bill Essayli, for the Central District of California, said: 'The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president. 'My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.' Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said: 'The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. 'Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC (People's Republic of China), and targeting him with violence.' If convicted Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
British man accused of plotting to export US military tech to China, called Xi Jinping ‘The Boss' in intercepted calls
According to the US justice department, John Miller, a 63-year-old British man, is accused of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act, reports said. It added the US is looking to extradite Miller from Serbia, along with his co-accused, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China. Chinese President Xi Jinping was referred as 'The Boss" in intercepted calls, which investigators believe he was knowingly acting under order from Beijing, the Mail on Sunday reported. Both 'solicited the procurement of US defence articles, including missiles, air defence radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People's Republic of China', according to the US Attorney's Office issued court documents. On April 24, Miller was detained in Belgrade as part of an FBI-led sting operation, reports said. The two men reportedly discussed methods to export a cryptographic device from the United States to China, including hiding the device inside a blender and initially shipping it to Hong Kong. They are said to have paid approximately $10,000 USD (about AUD 15,550) as a deposit for the cryptographic device through a courier in the US and a wire transfer to a US bank account. The most serious charge against them is a violation of the Arms Export Control Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. "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," Deputy US Attorney-General Todd Blanche mentioned. 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge,' he added. If convicted, Miller could face up to five years in prison for conspiracy, five years for interstate stalking, and ten years for smuggling. "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,' a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson stated.
