A former Chinese biology researcher at Indiana University Bloomington has been sentenced for smuggling DNA samples of E. coli bacteria into the United States from China, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced on April 10.
During the sentencing hearing at the federal district court in Indianapolis on April 7, prosecutors presented evidence that Xiang was a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and lied about his affiliation with the CCP when questioned by immigration officials.
“This Chinese Communist Party member exploited a federally funded research grant from USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture] to smuggle dangerous biological material into the United States. The sender lied on the manifest to hide the dangerous nature of the shipment,” USDA Inspector General John Walk said in a statement.
“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement partners like CBP and FBI against trade fraud and stop the exploitation by foreign adversaries of federal grants administered by USDA.”
Xiang, who holds a Ph.D. from China’s state-run Chinese Academy of Sciences, obtained the visa to do postdoctoral research at the university starting on June 12, 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
In November 2025, the FBI’s Indianapolis office started an investigation into suspicious shipments originating from China to individuals connected to the university, according to court documents. Later, FBI agents found that Xiang had received a suspicious shipment from China at his residence in Bloomington, Indiana, in March 2024.
The shipment was sent from a China-based company called Guangzhou Sci‑Tech Innovation Trading and was declared as “underwear of man-made fibers, other womens,” according to prosecutors.
“The FBI assessed that it was odd for Xiang to purchase and ship women’s underwear from China, and further assessed it as peculiar that a company by the name ‘Guangzhou Sci Tech Innovation Trading’ would sell underwear or clothing,” an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint.
On Nov. 23, 2025, Xiang was interviewed by Customs and Border Protection agents at Chicago O’Hare International Airport upon returning to the United States from a research trip to the UK, according to prosecutors. During the interview, Xiang initially claimed he had no knowledge of any smuggling activity, but later admitted the shipment he received was intentionally mislabeled to conceal the DNA samples of E. coli.
“Xiang further acknowledged he was aware that a permit was required in order to ship biological materials into the United States, and that he knowingly did not obtain one. Xiang also admitted that he, and those shipping the E. coli to him from China, sought to conceal the E. coli samples in the clothing shipment to circumvent U.S. law,” the FBI affidavit reads.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection subsequently terminated Xiang’s visa, and he was arrested by the FBI, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
E. coli, short for Escherichia coli, is considered a “model organism” for researchers due to its fast growth rate and genetic manipulability, according to the American Society for Microbiology. Scientists use E. coli. to study gene regulation, genetic mutations, and genetic engineering.
“Xiang intentionally exploited his access to laboratory facilities at one of Indiana’s flagship research universities, and the privileges of his J‑1 visa status, to illegally smuggle biological materials into the United States,” Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said in a statement.
“Conduct like Xiang’s circumvents diligent inspection of potentially harmful substances by CBP, USDA, and those agencies required by law to prevent the introduction of invasive and harmful biologic materials into our country.”
The defendant’s sentencing memorandum included several letters submitted to the court in defense of Xiang’s actions and character, including one from Armin Moczek, chair of the university’s Department of Biology.
“I would like to emphasize that the use of plasmid DNA—the type of DNA Dr. Xiang is accused of having smuggled into the country—is standard practice for molecular biologists, so standard in fact that we teach it to freshman undergrads and high school interns,” Moczek wrote in a letter dated March 23.
The Epoch Times was unable to contact Xiang’s legal representation for comment.
