Legal Docket by CourtListener: United States v. Song (3:21-cr-00011)
On July 23, 2021, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds motioned to dismiss the case against Dr. Chen Song, a visiting researcher on neurology from China at Stanford University. On the same day, U.S. District Judge William Alsup granted the motion to dismiss. Dr. Song's passport was returned immediately, and she travelled back to China to continue her medical practice.
Her attorney John Hemann, Partner at Cooley LLP, spoke briefly about her case in the October 2021 APA Justice meeting, which is included in the meeting summary.
On July 23, 2020, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Dr. Song. On January 7, 2021, Dr. Song was charged with one count of visa fraud. If convicted, Dr. Song faced a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. On February 19, 2021, Dr. Song was charged additionally for obstruction of official proceedings; two counts of alteration, destruction, mutilation, or concealment of records; and making false statements to a government agency.
Links and References
2021/10/05 APA Justice: October 2021 Meeting Summary
2021/07/23 PACER: Notice of dismissal by the Government
PACER: Judge's order granting the government's motion to dismiss
2021/06/17 Reuters: Chinese scientists ensnared in U.S. visa fraud legal battle
2021/02/19 Department of Justice: Federal Charges Against Stanford University Researcher Expanded
PAOnline: Ex-Stanford researcher allegedly tied to Chinese military faces more charges
AP: More charges against Chinese scientist in visa fraud case
2021/02/22 Stanford Review: Stanford Researcher Hid Ties to Chinese Military
2021/02/18 PACER: Superseding Indictment
2021/01/07 PACER: Original Indictment
2020/07/24 PAOnline: UPDATED: FBI arresting visiting researchers, including one at Stanford, claiming they were working for China’s military
2020/07/23 Department of Justice: Researchers Charged with Visa Fraud After Lying About Their Work for China’s People’s Liberation Army
2020/07/20 KPIX-5: Stanford Researcher Accused Of Being Active Member Of Chinese Military, Charged With Visa Fraud
Her attorney John Hemann, Partner at Cooley LLP, spoke briefly about her case in the October 2021 APA Justice meeting, which is included in the meeting summary.
On July 23, 2020, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Dr. Song. On January 7, 2021, Dr. Song was charged with one count of visa fraud. If convicted, Dr. Song faced a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. On February 19, 2021, Dr. Song was charged additionally for obstruction of official proceedings; two counts of alteration, destruction, mutilation, or concealment of records; and making false statements to a government agency.
Links and References
2021/10/05 APA Justice: October 2021 Meeting Summary
2021/07/23 PACER: Notice of dismissal by the Government
PACER: Judge's order granting the government's motion to dismiss
2021/06/17 Reuters: Chinese scientists ensnared in U.S. visa fraud legal battle
2021/02/19 Department of Justice: Federal Charges Against Stanford University Researcher Expanded
PAOnline: Ex-Stanford researcher allegedly tied to Chinese military faces more charges
AP: More charges against Chinese scientist in visa fraud case
2021/02/22 Stanford Review: Stanford Researcher Hid Ties to Chinese Military
2021/02/18 PACER: Superseding Indictment
2021/01/07 PACER: Original Indictment
2020/07/24 PAOnline: UPDATED: FBI arresting visiting researchers, including one at Stanford, claiming they were working for China’s military
2020/07/23 Department of Justice: Researchers Charged with Visa Fraud After Lying About Their Work for China’s People’s Liberation Army
2020/07/20 KPIX-5: Stanford Researcher Accused Of Being Active Member Of Chinese Military, Charged With Visa Fraud