Midwest
Chinese student arrested for allegedly smuggling undeclared biological materials seen in new mugshot
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Authorities have released a mugshot of the Chinese national accused of smuggling undeclared biological material into the United States.
Chengxuan Han was initially scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday to face charges of smuggling goods into the U.S. and making false statements, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. However, her detention hearing was cut short after her court-appointed attorney requested more time due to “some additional matters pertinent to the issue of bond.”
Han is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Ph.D. student at Wuhan’s College of Life Science and Technology in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Han is the third Chinese national arrested this month for allegedly smuggling items into the U.S. University of Michigan post-doctoral research fellow Yunqing Jian and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, were arrested after allegedly bringing an “agroterrorism agent” into the U.S. to study at a University of Michigan laboratory.
CHINESE PHD STUDENT FROM WUHAN ARRESTED SMUGGLING BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS AFTER DELETING ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE: DOJ
Chengxuan Han is facing federal charges after her detention hearing was postponed at her attorney’s request. (The Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office)
From September 2024 to March 2025, authorities allege Han mailed four packages containing undeclared biological material to individuals working in the University of Michigan’s laboratory, according to the criminal complaint.
On Sunday, Han traveled to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Shanghai on a J1 visa and was subjected to an inspection by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.
During the search, Han allegedly told officers she did not mail packages to the laboratory, before eventually admitting she had sent them when pressed by authorities. Han initially told CBP officers the packages contained plastic cups – not petri dishes – and a book, according to court documents.
CHINESE OFFICIAL CLAIMS NO KNOWLEDGE OF FUNGUS SITUATION, SAYS CHINA REQUIRES CITIZENS ‘ABIDE BY LOCAL LAWS’
A package seized by CBP agents allegedly contained eight Petri dishes containing biological materials mailed by Chengxuan Han. (Department of Justice)
“Biological samples, such as plasmids, are often placed within a book and manifested only as a book for shipment, as a means of concealment from U.S. Customs,” the complaint said.
Han’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Upon being confronted by officials, Han allegedly confessed to sending packages containing roundworm-related biomaterials. CBP officers also discovered the content on Han’s electronic devices had been deleted three days before she arrived in the U.S.
Following the inspection, the FBI and Homeland Security officials spoke with Han. During the conversation, Han allegedly admitted to previously making false statements to CBP officers and acknowledged she sent the packages.
FOREIGN NATIONALS CHARGED AMID TRUMP VISA CRACKDOWN FOR SCHEME TO SMUGGLE US MILITARY EQUIPMENT INTO CHINA
A package seized by CBP agents allegedly contained a handwritten note containing labels consistent with biological materials mailed by Chengxuan Han. (Department of Justice)
A package seized by CBP agents allegedly contained a plasmids biological sample mailed by Chengxuan Han. (Department of Justice)
“The FBI has zero tolerance for those who violate federal law and remains unwavering in our mission to protect the American people,” Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said in a statement. “The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation’s research institutions.”
The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China—to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory – is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security,” U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon said in a statement. “The American taxpayer should not be underwriting a PRC-based smuggling operation at one of our crucial public institutions.”
Han is scheduled to appear in court for a detention hearing on June 13.
FORMER US ARMY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST SENTENCED FOR SELLING SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS TO CHINESE NATIONAL
Han’s arrest came one day before 42-year-old Shenghua Wen pleaded guilty to federal charges after authorities revealed he spent years exporting ammunition, firearms and other military items to North Korea, in coordination with North Korean government officials.
Wen, a Chinese citizen, came to the U.S. in 2012 and remained in the country illegally despite his student visa expiring the following year.
Prior to moving to the U.S., Wen met with officials from North Korea’s government at the country’s embassy in China, where he was directed to obtain the items on behalf of North Korea.
Nearly 10 years later, North Korean government officials directed Wen via an online messaging app to procure firearms and sensitive technology to be smuggled to North Korea through China.
‘COMING FOR US’: EXPERT SOUNDS ALARM ON CCP’S MISSION TO ‘KILL AMERICANS’ AFTER FBI MAKES SHOCKING ARRESTS
Devices seized from Wen’s home. (Justice Department)
In 2023, Wen shipped at least three containers of firearms from a California port to China, with North Korea as the ultimate destination, by filing false export information to conceal the contents of the containers.
Wen used money from a North Korean contact to purchase many of the firearms in Texas before driving them back to California to be shipped, according to the DOJ.
By December 2023, one of the shipments departed the Port of Long Beach and arrived in Hong Kong one month later, with it eventually arriving in North Korea.
Wen also obtained sensitive technology to send to North Korea, according to prosecutors. The technology consisted of a handheld broadband receiver that detects known, unknown, illegal, disruptive or interfering transmissions and a chemical threat identification device.
He also looked to acquire a civilian airplane engine and thermal imaging system to be mounted on a drone or aircraft for target identification.
The entire scheme cost North Korean officials approximately $2 million in wire transfers to Wen, with the funds being used to procure firearms and other goods for the government.
Wen faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for both charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 18.
Fox News’ Patrick McGovern, Greg Wehner and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
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North Dakota
Armstrong directs flags to be flown at half-staff Friday in honor and remembrance of Rep. Liz Conmy
Conmy died Saturday, April 25, at age 67, along with her partner, Joe Cass, in a plane crash in Minnesota. Conmy had represented District 11 in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2022.
A celebration of life service for Conmy will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at RiverHaven Events Center, 700 1st Ave. N., Moorhead, Minnesota.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio’s term limits are set to create turnover in state government, but as the state heads toward November elections with open seats across the top offices, many of the same political figures are positioning themselves to stay in power by moving into different roles.
In 2027, Ohio will have a new governor as Gov. Mike DeWine reaches the end of his second term. With term limits affecting multiple statewide offices, the upcoming election cycle is shaping up as a round of political musical chairs.
The Ohio Constitution mandates term limits for state officeholders such as governor and attorney general. Voters also approved term limits in 1992 for state representatives and state senators. But instead of consistently producing new faces in Columbus, the limits have often led to officeholders shifting from one position to another.
- Several prominent Republicans are already lined up for new races:
- Republican Keith Faber, term-limited as auditor, is running for attorney general.
- Frank LaRose, term-limited as secretary of state, is running for auditor.
- Robert Sprague, term-limited as treasurer, is running for secretary of state.
- Two term-limited legislators — former state Rep. Jay Edwards and term-limited state Sen. Kristina Roegner — are facing off in the primary for treasurer.
Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio said the original intent behind term limits was to bring new lawmakers into the Statehouse.
“When we thought about the need for term limits, there was the sense, hey, we want to refresh the Statehouse,” Turcer said. “And that doesn’t happen when legislators go from one chamber to the other.”
Republican strategist Terry Casey said the current dynamic reflects competing voter preferences.
“The public wants people experienced, but they also want turnover and change,” Casey said. “So this is kind of an unusual quirk that hasn’t happened previously in history. But again, do you want experience or do you want fresh faces? In reality, the public wants both.”
Undated file image of voters. The next election in Ohio is Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (WSYX)
Turcer said experience can be valuable, but she argued voters also wanted to prevent long-term consolidation of political influence.
“One of the things that voters really didn’t want was the accumulation of power,” Turcer said.
She pointed to Matt Huffman as an example. Huffman served as president of the Senate, and when he was term-limited there, he ran for the Ohio House in 2024. He won and then became House speaker.
“So that’s not just jumping from one chamber to the other,” Turcer said. “That’s bringing along the political power and the long-term career that you have.”
While proposals occasionally surface to change Ohio’s term-limit rules, there are no active efforts underway, meaning the pattern of candidates moving from one office to another is likely to continue.
Nearly twenty years ago it started with a journey to Sioux Falls, SD to look for ideas there – to bring back to Salina.
Current Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock was part of the tour group searching for a creative connection to borrow.
This weekend SculptureTour Salina will unveil the new 2026 exhibit during the UNwrap Party on Saturday, May 2nd.
According to Visit Salina, the 24 new sculptures will be simultaneously unwrapped at precisely 11:00 am. Everyone is encouraged to bring family and friends and come downtown for the big reveal.
Everyone is encouraged to vote for the People’s Choice. Pick up a Walking Tour/Ballot from: One of the silver boxes at the mid-block pedestrian crossings on Santa Fe, or one of many of the downtown merchants
You can vote for your favorite piece and return your ballot to one of the silver boxes.
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