BUFFALO, N.Y. – Jiaxuemo Zhang, 30, of Arizona, just learned a hard lesson about honesty and U.S. immigration laws. The Chinese national pleaded guilty to falsifying information on his visa application and received time served in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, was followed immediately by Zhang’s transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, reveals a calculated attempt to circumvent restrictions on individuals connected to the People’s Republic of China’s military-industrial complex. Zhang arrived in the U.S. in 2021 on an F-1 student visa, ostensibly to study aerospace engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo (U.B.). But the application he submitted at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was a fabrication.
Zhang deliberately omitted crucial information: his prior studies and research at Beihang University in China between approximately September 2017 and December 2019. Beihang University isn’t just any school; it’s deeply entwined with China’s “military-civil fusion strategy,” a program designed to leverage civilian research for military advancement. Specifically, Zhang worked within the Fluid Mechanics Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and the National Laboratory for Computational Fluid Dynamics – facilities at the heart of this strategy.
Presidential Proclamation 10043 explicitly bars entry to the U.S. for individuals affiliated with institutions like Beihang University. Had Zhang been truthful on his visa application, his request would have been denied outright. He knowingly concealed this information, gambling on slipping through the cracks. He didn’t. The feds caught up.
The investigation, a collaborative effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Grimm), the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (Resident Agent-in-Charge Stephen Kaiser), and Customs and Border Protection (Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy), demonstrates the ongoing scrutiny of foreign students and researchers, particularly those with ties to potentially adversarial nations. This wasn’t some innocent oversight; it was a deliberate act of deception.
While Zhang received time served, the message is clear: attempting to mislead U.S. authorities about connections to the Chinese military will have consequences. The swift transfer to ICE signals a zero-tolerance policy for such violations, and a firm commitment to protecting U.S. national security. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on similar cases as they develop. # # # #
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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