Chinese Researcher Charged With Smuggling E. Coli Into the US

The Indiana University scientist studied the same plant fungus as Chinese researchers in Michigan charged with smuggling it last month, the FBI reported.
Chinese Researcher Charged With Smuggling E. Coli Into the US
A lab technician holds a bacteria culture that shows a positive infection of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, also known as the EHEC bacteria, from a patient in a file photo. Sean Gallup/Getty Images
|Updated:
0:00
A Chinese national with a temporary visa working as a biology researcher at Indiana University was charged with smuggling Escherichia coli (E. coli) and lying about it, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday.
“This is yet another example of a researcher from China—given the privilege to work at a U.S. university—who then allegedly chose to take part in a scheme to circumvent U.S. laws and receive biological materials hidden in a package originating from China,” Patel wrote as part of a statement on X.
Jill McLaughlin
Jill McLaughlin
Author
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.