A NASA-funded scientist has been charged with fraud and conspiracy, federal prosecutors announced Monday, saying he was working as a Chinese researcher at the same time he was taking U.S. government money.
The FBI says Zhengdong Cheng hid his Chinese associations, including being part of China’s Thousands Talents Program that seeks to illicitly siphon U.S. research. If his involvement had been known, he wouldn’t have been allowed on the NASA-funded project.
So he lied about his ties to Texas A&M University, where he was working and which had the NASA contract, the government charged.
“Once again, we have witnessed the criminal consequences that can arise from undisclosed participation in the Chinese government’s talent program,” said John C. Demers, assistant attorney general for national security.
“China is building an economy and academic institutions with bricks stolen from others all around the world,” said Ryan K. Patrick, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, where the case was brought.
The NASA research gave Mr. Cheng access to International Space Station resources, FBI Special Agent Benjamin Harper wrote.
He also was able to improve his standing in the eyes of China’s TTP, the FBI said.
The charges are the latest in a string of cases the Trump administration has brought against scientists it says are double-dipping, working for American universities or firms while also in the employ of China, and funneling the research back to Beijing-controlled interests.
Federal law has for some years barred NASA research contracts from going to entities or persons with ties to China.
The law specifically includes Chinese universities, which are run under the purview of the central government’s Ministry of Education, in that prohibition. Mr. Cheng was a professor and then director of an institute at Guangdong University of Technology, the FBI said.
Mr. Cheng is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and making a false statement.
