A Chinese researcher has been sentenced to over four months in prison for smuggling E. coli into the United States, as announced by federal prosecutors. Youhuan Xiang, 32, a former postdoctoral fellow at Indiana University, pleaded guilty to hiding E. coli DNA in packages labeled as women’s underwear sent from China.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, Xiang was found to be a member of the Chinese Communist Party and reportedly lied to immigration officials about his connections. This incident raises alarming concerns regarding public safety and the reliability of research funded by the federal government.
U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler stated, “Such actions represent a serious threat to public safety and the agricultural economy.”
Xiang received the package at his residence in Bloomington, Indiana, back in March 2024, and it had been shipped from a Chinese company with deceptive labeling to avoid detection.
The FBI began an investigation into the suspicious shipment in November 2025, when Indiana University officials flagged it. Xiang’s shipment was misdeclared as “man-made fiber underwear and other women’s underwear,” which was odd given the company’s focus on scientific products.
Upon returning from a research trip in the UK in November 2025, Xiang was stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Initially, he denied knowing about the package but later admitted that he had intentionally concealed E. coli DNA samples inside.
E. coli is a common bacterium found in the intestines, although certain harmful strains can lead to serious health issues.
FBI Special Agent Timothy J. O’Malley warned, “Anyone trying to secretly smuggle biological materials into the United States poses a serious risk to public safety.”
A federal judge imposed a sentence of over four months in prison on Xiang, along with a fine and supervised release, and mandated his removal from the U.S. after his sentencing.
USDA Inspector General John Wolk noted, “This member of the Chinese Communist Party misused federally funded research grants to funnel dangerous biological materials into the country.”
This case is part of a larger trend where authorities have prosecuted various foreign researchers for similar acts of smuggling biological materials. In November, three Chinese nationals associated with a University of Michigan lab were indicted for reportedly conspired to smuggle roundworm-related materials from China while providing false information to customs officials.
Additionally, other cases have surfaced, including one where a researcher from Harvard was detained for allegedly attempting to smuggle frog embryos into the U.S. without the proper permits.
