Overview

• Federal prosecutors charged Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud.
• Investigators allege Liu concealed vials of Fusarium graminearum at Detroit Metropolitan Airport for transfer to a University of Michigan laboratory where Jian worked.
• The complaint warns that the fungus causes head blight in wheat, barley, maize, and rice and produces toxins linked to livestock and human illness.
• According to court filings, Jian received Chinese government funding for her pathogen research and her electronics contain evidence of membership in the Chinese Communist Party.
• Jian’s initial federal court appearance is scheduled for today in Detroit as the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection continue their investigation before a possible felony indictment.