Chinese scholars at University of Michigan agree to stay in jail amid smuggling cases

DETROIT — Two University of Michigan scholars from China accused of smuggling biological material into the United States agreed Friday to be jailed without bond while their criminal cases are pending in federal court.

The decision by UM scholars Chengxuan Han and Yunqing Jian came amid concerns the Chinese nationals would flee the U.S. if released on bond while facing criminal charges.

That concern has increased in the two weeks since prosecutors charged another Chinese national studying at UM, 19-year-old Haoxiang Gao, with fleeing the U.S. in January to avoid prosecution despite surrendering his Chinese passport and obtaining a second travel document. Gao is accused of voting illegally in the 2024 election.

Han, Jian and Gao are among four Chinese nationals with ties to UM charged with federal crimes in the last two weeks. The criminal cases were filed amid plans by the Trump administration to revoke Chinese student visas nationwide and the arrests have raised concerns about whether Chinese nationals are part of a campaign by the Chinese government to terrorize the U.S. agricultural industry and meddle in elections.

A handcuffed Han, 28, wearing an orange Sanilac County Jail uniform, her ankles restrained by chains, said nothing beyond answering basic questions routed through a Mandarin translator. Minutes later, Jian, 33, appeared in an identical uniform, handcuffs and chains and consented to detention.

Han appeared in federal court in Detroit five days after being arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport following a flight from Shanghai. Investigators say the doctoral student from the College of Life Science and Technology in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, a visiting scholar at UM, mailed four packages from China containing hidden biological material.

Han is accused of smuggling biological material into the United States and lying to federal agents. If convicted of the charges, Han faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The case describes a criminal investigation that culminated on Sunday night when Han arrived at the McNamara Terminal of Detroit Metropolitan Airport after a flight from Shanghai.

"During the secondary inspection, Han made false statements that she had not sent packages to members of the UM Lab," an FBI agent wrote in the court case. "When pressed, Han admitted that she had shipped packages to members of the UM Lab. Han initially stated to (Customs and Border Patrol) officers that the packages were plastic cups (rather than petri dishes) and a book (omitting the envelope with suspected biological materials concealed in it)."

After being inspected, Han was questioned by FBI agents.

“During this interview, Han admitted to sending the packages, admitted that the packages contained biological material related to round worms, and admitted to making false statements to the CBP officers during her inspection,” according to prosecutors.

Han was linked to four packages of concealed or mis-manifested biological material addressed to people associated with the UM lab from September 2024 to March, according to the FBI. The two recipients are not identified by name.

Han told investigators the packages contained Nematode growth medium, which is used to cultivate a type of worm in laboratory settings, according to the court filing. The packages also contained plasmids, which the National Human Genome Research Institute defines as a small DNA molecule found in bacteria and some microscopic organisms.

Han denied that anybody directed her to send the shipments. When asked about one package, Han said she sent it "as a 'game' with clues written above each plasmid,'" according to the FBI.

Meanwhile, Jian appeared in federal court more than one week after she was charged with trying to smuggle a biological pathogen characterized as a potential agricultural terrorism weapon that can be used for targeting food crops.

Jian is a citizen of China who received a doctorate degree in plant pathogens from Zhejiang University. Investigators say they have discovered information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Prosecutors say she received money from a Chinese foundation funded largely by the Chinese government to conduct post-doctoral work, including research on a fungus known as Fusarium graminearum, a biological pathogen that can cause devastating diseases in crops.

Fusarium graminearum is a strain of a plant pathogen that causes “head blight,” according to the criminal case, a disease that can devastate wheat, barley, maize and rice.

"Fusarium graminearum is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year," an FBI special agent wrote in the criminal filing. Toxins produced by Fusarium graminearum cause vomiting, liver damage and reproductive defects in livestock and humans, according to the complaint.

She was charged alongside her boyfriend, 34-year-old Zunyong Liu, who has returned to China.

They are charged with several crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., smuggling, making false statements to investigators and visa fraud. The smuggling charge carries the stiffest penalty — up to 20 years in federal prison.

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