WASHINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – A Texas A&M University professor and NASA researcher has been charged with wire fraud, conspiracy and false statements based on allegations he concealed his work for a Chinese university as well has his affiliation with Chinese-owned companies.
According to a Department of Justice statement, “The terms of Zhengdong Chen’s grant prohibited participation, collaboration or coordination with China, any Chinese-owned company or any Chinese University.”
Chen is a professor in the College of Engineering at Texas A & M.
According to the criminal complaint, the 53-year-old was hired by the TAMU in 2004 and worked for the Guangdon University of Technology in Guangdon, China from 2012 to 2018.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said the Chinese government’s talent program has been problematic.
“Once again, we have witnessed the criminal consequences that can arise from undisclosed participation in the Chinese government’s talent program. Professor Cheng allegedly made false statements to his university and to NASA regarding his affiliations with the Chinese government. The Department of Justice will continue seeking to bring participation in these talent programs to light and to expose the exploitation of our nation and our prized research institutions,” he said.
Cheng made an appearance in front of a Houston judge Monday following his arrest on Sunday.
Click here to read the full criminal complaint.
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