Texas A&M professor arrested for conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud

COLLEGE STATION, Texas. (WVLT/KBTX) -Texas A&M professor, 53-year-old Zhengdong Cheng, was charged with conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud on Sunday, according to the Department of Justice.

CBS affiliate KBTX reported, Cheng allegedly led a team conducting research for NASA and according to the criminal complaint willfully took steps to obscure his affiliations and collaboration with a Chinese University and a Chinese-owned company for several years.

The university’s system chancellor John Sharp said the university takes security seriously and that they worked with the FBI during the investigation.

“We worked closely with the FBI on this case and we gladly will work with them again as needed,” said Sharp in a statement. “No one in higher education takes security seriously and that they worked with the investigation.

According to authorities, Cheng was taken into custody on Sunday and is expected to make his initial court appearance on Monday in Houston.

KBTX reported according to the complaint, Cheng allegedly personally benefited from his affiliation with Texas A&M and NASA. He was granted increased access to NASA resources, including the International Space Station.

“As alleged, Zhengdong Cheng knowingly deceived NASA officials about his association with Chinese owned companies and universities willingly accepted U.S. government funding, and defrauded his university,” said Assistant Director Alan Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The FBI is committed to aggressively pursuing those individuals who try and undercut or U.S. research institutions and government agencies by concealing their participation in Chinese talent recruitment programs and to hold them accountable for their actions.”

The investigation was conducted by the FBI-Bryan Resident Agency and NASA Office of Inspector General.

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