DETROIT — Chengxuan Han, a Chinese national pursuing a Ph.D. in Life Science and Technology, has pleaded no contest to smuggling charges and making false statements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, according to United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined by FBI’s Reuben Coleman, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon, and ICE HSI’s Jared Murphey in the announcement. Han, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is accused of sending packages containing concealed biological material to the University of Michigan.
Court documents reveal Han sent multiple packages from China to the U.S., addressed to individuals at the University of Michigan’s laboratory. Upon her arrival in Detroit, Han made false statements about the shipments during a Customs and Border Protection inspection. She later admitted sending the packages and deleting information on her electronic device before entering the country.
Sentencing is set for September 10, 2025, with potential penalties ranging from 20 to 25 years in prison. Gorgon expressed concern over Han’s activities, questioning the integrity of the University of Michigan’s Life Sciences Institute and calling for increased vigilance against such threats.
Coleman emphasized the FBI’s commitment to public safety and national security, stating that the smuggling of biological materials endangers both. Raybon highlighted the stringent guidelines for importing biological materials, emphasizing the importance of enforcing these regulations to protect homeland security. Murphey reinforced ICE HSI’s dedication to stopping foreign actors from exploiting educational institutions for their schemes.
The FBI, CBP, and ICE HSI collaborated in investigating Han’s case. The grim details of Han’s actions underscore the seriousness of bio-smuggling and the importance of vigilant border protection.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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