Legal Docket by CourtListener: United States v. Cheng (4:20-cr-00455)
On August 24, 2020, the Justice Department charged Texas A&M University professor and NASA researcher Zhengdong Cheng (成正东) with lying about his affiliations with Chinese universities, institutions and a government program that recruits foreign nationals with knowledge of U.S. technology and intellectual property. His case is listed as one of the "China Initiative" cases.
The charges against Professor Cheng do not involve economic espionage or trade secret theft. He has been denied bail since his arrest in August 2020. According to a media opinion, “The judge and prosecution denied all eight of Cheng's bail sponsors who are willing to vouch for Cheng because they are, like Chen, Chinese Americans.”
His defense attorney stated in a February 23, 2021 motion to revoke the detention order that Professor Cheng tested positive with COVID-19 while in custody. The Human Rights Committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicines and the Committee of Concerned Scientists have sent letters to the court in support of the motion. A hearing was scheduled for May 6, 2021.
Links and References
2022/09/23 AP: Professor, NASA researcher pleads guilty in China ties case
KBTX: Former Texas A&M professor, NASA researcher takes plea deal for hiding connections with China
2021/11/05 Law360: Prof. Implicated As Chinese Agent Says NASA Knew His Work
2021/11/04 United States v. Cheng (4:20-cr-00455): Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Allege an Offense
2021/05/06 United States v. Cheng (4:20-cr-00455): Court Hearing on Motion to Revoke Detention Order
2021/04/15 Committee of Concerned Scientists: Letter of Support to Revoke Detention Order
2021/03/25 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicines: Letter of Support to Revoke Detention Order
2021/02/23 United States v. Cheng (4:20-cr-00455): Motion For Revocation Of Detention Order
2021/02/16 Tennessean opinion: Accused Chinese academics in Tennessee and elsewhere should not be unfairly punished
2021/01/27 成正东援助小组: 关于成正东教授一案的几点说明
2020/08/25 UPI: Texas A&M professor, NASA researcher charged with hiding ties to China
2020/08/04 DOJ: NASA Researcher Arrested for False Statements and Wire Fraud in Relation to China’s Talents Program
The charges against Professor Cheng do not involve economic espionage or trade secret theft. He has been denied bail since his arrest in August 2020. According to a media opinion, “The judge and prosecution denied all eight of Cheng's bail sponsors who are willing to vouch for Cheng because they are, like Chen, Chinese Americans.”
His defense attorney stated in a February 23, 2021 motion to revoke the detention order that Professor Cheng tested positive with COVID-19 while in custody. The Human Rights Committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicines and the Committee of Concerned Scientists have sent letters to the court in support of the motion. A hearing was scheduled for May 6, 2021.
Links and References
2022/09/23 AP: Professor, NASA researcher pleads guilty in China ties case
KBTX: Former Texas A&M professor, NASA researcher takes plea deal for hiding connections with China
2021/11/05 Law360: Prof. Implicated As Chinese Agent Says NASA Knew His Work
2021/11/04 United States v. Cheng (4:20-cr-00455): Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Allege an Offense
2021/05/06 United States v. Cheng (4:20-cr-00455): Court Hearing on Motion to Revoke Detention Order
2021/04/15 Committee of Concerned Scientists: Letter of Support to Revoke Detention Order
2021/03/25 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicines: Letter of Support to Revoke Detention Order
2021/02/23 United States v. Cheng (4:20-cr-00455): Motion For Revocation Of Detention Order
2021/02/16 Tennessean opinion: Accused Chinese academics in Tennessee and elsewhere should not be unfairly punished
2021/01/27 成正东援助小组: 关于成正东教授一案的几点说明
2020/08/25 UPI: Texas A&M professor, NASA researcher charged with hiding ties to China
2020/08/04 DOJ: NASA Researcher Arrested for False Statements and Wire Fraud in Relation to China’s Talents Program