A Texas A&M University (TAMU) professor has been arrested and charged in connection with hiding his funding from China while working as a researcher for NASA, the Justice Department announced on Aug. 24.
Cheng Zhengdong, 53, a professor of engineering at TAMU for years, deliberately concealed his ties to Chinese universities, a Chinese company, and state-backed talent plans, while at the same time leading a research team for NASA, prosecutors allege. Under the terms of his grant from NASA, Cheng was prohibited from collaborating with Chinese institutions, the department added.
Prosecutors said Cheng was also able to gain access to NASA resources relating to the International Space Station, and leverage that to advance his standing at the Chinese university. They said Cheng personally received $86,000 in funding from NASA, and was part of a team that received a $747,000 grant from the organization.
He was arrested Aug. 23 and was charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if found guilty of wire fraud, and a maximum of five years each for the other two offenses.
The arrest is the latest in a long line of prosecutions against researchers in the United States accused of hiding their affiliations to Chinese talent plans and institutions, often while receiving U.S. taxpayer-funded grants. U.S. officials have long warned that state-backed recruitment programs, such as the Thousand Talents Plan, incentivize foreign scientists and researchers to transfer technology and know-how to China.
“China is building an economy and academic institutions with bricks stolen from others all around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick for the Southern District of Texas. “While 1.4 million foreign researchers and academics are here in the U.S. for the right reasons, the Chinese Talents Program exploits our open and free universities. These conflicts must be disclosed, and we will hold those accountable when such conflict violates the law.”…
Continue Reading