Youhuang Xiang, a former post-doctoral researcher at Indiana University and citizen of the People’s Republic of China, was sentenced on April 7 to more than four months in prison, a $500 fine, and one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to smuggling biological materials into the United States from China. As part of his plea agreement, Xiang will also be immediately removed from the country.
The case highlights concerns about national security and public safety related to the illegal importation of potentially harmful biological substances. Authorities say such actions can threaten both agricultural systems and general health by circumventing inspection protocols.
Court documents show that Xiang used his J-1 visa status to perform research at Indiana University Bloomington beginning in June 2023. In March 2024, he received a shipment labeled as women’s underwear from Guangzhou Sci-Tech Innovation Trading but later admitted it contained concealed samples of E. coli DNA intended to bypass U.S. law. The FBI began investigating suspicious shipments connected with university affiliates in November 2025 and arrested Xiang after he confessed during an interview with Customs officials at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
During sentencing, evidence revealed that Xiang was a member of the Chinese Communist Party and had lied about this affiliation when questioned by immigration authorities.
"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," said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "Conduct like Xiang’s circumvents diligent inspection... Such conduct poses a very serious threat to public safety and to the health of our agricultural economy." Wheeler added: "Let me be clear: The Customs laws and regulations... may not be ignored at the whim and folly of scientific researchers and academic institutions... Our office remains firmly committed... against such grave national security threats."
FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley said: "Those who attempt to secretly bring biological materials into the United States are taking a serious risk with public safety." He continued: "Concealing E. coli to avoid detection shows a clear disregard for the law... The FBI will not tolerate these actions." USDA Inspector General John Walk commented: "This Chinese Communist Party member exploited a federally funded research grant from USDA to smuggle dangerous biological material into the United States... We will continue to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement partners like CBP and FBI against trade fraud..."
The investigation involved multiple agencies including FBI Indianapolis Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG). Chief U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II imposed sentence in this case.
