Chinese scientist faces hearing after pathogen seized by FBI
Share and Follow


() A detention hearing was postponed on Thursday for Yunqing Jian, a Chinese scientist who was caught smuggling a pathogen into the U.S. last year.

Jian and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, were charged by the FBI earlier this week with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud.

The FBI says Liu tried to sneak Fusarium graminearum into the country but was turned away and sent back to China after changing his story during an interrogation about red plant material discovered in his backpack.

Jian and Liu had exchanged messages suggesting that Jian was already tending to the toxic fungus at a University of Michigan lab before Liu, a lab researcher at the university, was caught at the Detroit airport.

The university does not have federal permits to handle it.

The FBI acknowledged that a scientific journal described Fusarium graminearum as a potential “agroterrorism weapon.”

The pathogen is known to cause diseases in wheat, barley, maize and rice.

The new court date has been announced for June 13.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Yale hosts controversial speaker Trita Parsi accused of promoting Iranian regime interests

Yale Sparks Debate by Hosting Trita Parsi Amid Accusations of Promoting Iranian Regime Interests

As tensions in Iran continue to escalate, a planned event at Yale…
Paul Correa talking to officers GIF

Arizona County Attorney Dismissed Following Shocking Allegations of Filming Minor and Engaging in Public Indecency

Authorities have unveiled footage capturing the moment police confronted a prominent attorney…
‘I don’t see this as getting better’: Data centers fuel concern over water, energy use, air pollution

Data Centers’ Environmental Impact: Unveiling the Water and Energy Crisis

Nestled between expansive agricultural fields and the stunning Great Lakes, Port…
US envoys ‌arrive in Moscow for peace talks after Zelensky blasted EU

US Diplomats Touch Down in Moscow for Crucial Peace Negotiations Following Zelensky’s Critique of EU

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have touched down in Moscow…
'Sinners' sets Oscars record with 16 nominations

Historic Oscars Milestone: ‘Sinners’ Breaks Records with 16 Unprecedented Nominations

Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners,” a vampire saga infused with blues, topped the…
Jacksonville mother seeks answers one year after daughter drowned following crash

Jacksonville Mother Continues Search for Truth One Year After Daughter’s Tragic Drowning Post-Crash

The family of Jareesha Wilkerson continues to search for clarity about her…
Kristi Noem's 'evil' plot to oust Trump border boss sparks Cabinet war

Kristi Noem’s Controversial Strategy to Replace Trump Border Chief Ignites Cabinet Tensions

A new report reveals that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney…
Gruesome secret trove of Idaho murder pictures leak

Leaked Images Reveal Disturbing Details of Idaho Murder Case

The chilling traces of a brutal crime scene are etched into the…