Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan | Department of Justice
Chengxuan Han, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, was sentenced to time served—three months—after pleading guilty to three counts of smuggling and making false statements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., in Detroit.
Han is pursuing a Ph.D. at the College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China. According to court documents, she sent multiple packages from China to the United States containing concealed biological material addressed to individuals associated with a laboratory at the University of Michigan.
Upon her arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on June 8, 2025, Han entered on a J1 visa. Customs officers inspected her and found that she had made false statements regarding the shipments and their contents. It was also discovered that she had deleted content from her electronic device three days before arriving in the country. During an interview following the inspection, Han admitted sending packages containing biological material related to round worms and acknowledged lying to customs officers.
United States Attorney Gorgon said, “It is a privilege to study at one of our elite institutions. Aliens should not be abusing our hospitality by smuggling unknown biomaterials into America and then lying about it. The folks who keep us safe must know what aliens like the defendant are bringing into our country. And these convictions are a small but important step in that direction.”
Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, stated: "Today's sentencing reinforces the FBI's unwavering commitment to protecting Americans from individuals who attempt to illegally import biological materials into our country. I would like to thank the dedicated members of the FBI Detroit Field Office, alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection and ICE HSI, who played a vital role in this investigation. I also send my sincerest appreciation to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their partnership in securing this successful prosecution. The FBI will remain steadfast in its mission to safeguard our nation and protect our communities from those who attempt to jeopardize the safety and security or the American people."
Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon commented: “While the criminal outcome could have been far worse for Ms. Han, she will be removed from the U.S. and barred from reentry as the result of her actions. This case serves as another example of the interagency effort put forth each day to protect our homeland from a growing number of threats from beyond our borders.”
Matthew Stentz, Acting Special Agent in Charge for ICE HSI Detroit field office added: “Smuggling biological materials into the United States poses a serious threat, and HSI remains committed to work with our partners to investigate and disrupt such activities. This case highlights the importance of collaboration among federal agencies to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law.”
The investigation involved coordination between multiple federal agencies including FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI).
