In a notable legal case in Michigan, Yunqing Jian, a Chinese scientist, pleaded guilty to smuggling biological materials but avoided additional jail time beyond the five months she had already served. Jian, a 33-year-old temporary researcher at a University of Michigan lab, was arrested in June for conspiring with her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, to study and cultivate a toxic fungus known as Fusarium graminearum, which can damage crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice. Liu was apprehended at a Detroit airport in 2024 carrying small samples of the pathogen. Both Jian and Liu had specialized in studying this fungus in China, where it is widely found in U.S. fields under certain weather and growing conditions. However, importing such biological materials into the U.S. without a government permit is illegal, and the university lacked the necessary authorization. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Martin highlighted the potential for ‘devastating harm,’ though he admitted there was no evidence of malicious intent. Roger Innes, an expert from the University of Indiana, reviewed the evidence and concluded there was no risk to U.S. farmers or any intent to create a more dangerous strain. Jian was sentenced to five months in jail, time she had already served, and will be deported. She apologized in court, stating her actions were driven by research pressure rather than harmful intent. The conspiracy charge against her was dropped in exchange for her guilty plea to smuggling and making false statements. Liu, also charged, remains in China and is unlikely to return to the U.S. Jian had previously conducted research at Zhejiang University in China and had been working in Michigan since summer 2023.
Chinese scientist pleads guilty in US smuggling case and will be quickly deported
