Former IU researcher sentenced to prison for smuggling E. coli DNA

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A former Indiana University researcher was sentenced to more than four months in prison for smuggling E. coli DNA from China, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Indianapolis said in a news release issued Friday.

Youhuang Xiang, 32, of China, pleaded guilty to the charges. He also received a $500 fine and supervised release. Xiang will immediately be removed from the United States under a judicial order, the release said.

E. coli are bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals.

Xiang holds a Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He came to IU Bloomington in June 2023 on a J-1 visa to conduct postdoctoral research in the biology department. A J-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for people approved to participate in work- and-study-based exchange visitor programs, such as research, teaching or training. 

The FBI Indianapolis Division began investigating suspicious shipments from China to IU affiliates in November, according to court documents.

Agents determined Xiang received a suspicious package at his Bloomington home in March 2024. The package came from Guangzhou Sci-Tech Innovation Trading.

The shipping man...