The Department of Justice announced that a federal judge has revoked the U.S. citizenship of Li Chen and Yu Zhou following convictions for wire fraud and conspiracy to steal medical trade secrets from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Prosecutors say the researchers used stolen techniques — including exosome isolation methods — to found a biotech company in China and received about $1.5 million tied to the intellectual property. Chen was sentenced to 30 months in prison plus three years of supervised release; Zhou received 33 months. The court found their crimes involved "moral turpitude," supporting denaturalization.
Federal Judge Revokes U.S. Citizenship Of Researchers Convicted Of Stealing Hospital Medical Trade Secrets
Federal judge revokes US citizenship of Chinese couple convicted of stealing medical trade secrets for China
A federal judge has ordered the revocation of U.S. citizenship for Li Chen and Yu Zhou after prosecutors proved the couple engaged in wire fraud and a conspiracy to steal medical trade secrets from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Background and Charges
A Chinese couple convicted of trying to steal cutting-edge research from a hospital will have their U.S. citizenship revoked, the DOJ said Tuesday.(Reuters)
According to the Department of Justice, Chen and Zhou worked in separate research laboratories at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for roughly a decade. Prosecutors say they misappropriated proprietary information — including techniques for exosome isolation — and used it to found a biotech company in China. Authorities also allege the pair received backing from China’s State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs and obtained about $1.5 million tied to the disputed intellectual property.
Immigration And Naturalization Details
U.S. Judge James E. Simmons Jr. ordered Li Chen and Yu Zhou stripped of their naturalized U.S. citizenship.
Zhou first entered the United States in 2005 as an exchange visitor and returned in 2008 on a specialty-occupation visa sponsored by the hospital. He adjusted status to lawful permanent resident in 2011 as the derivative spouse of Chen. Chen naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2016; Zhou naturalized in 2017. Both were arrested in 2019 on charges relating to the theft of medical trade secrets.
Sentences And Court Ruling
According to the DOJ, Chen became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2016, and Zhou was naturalized in 2017.
Chen was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release; Zhou received a 33-month prison term. U.S. District Judge James E. Simmons Jr. concluded that the couple’s convictions for wire fraud and conspiracy involved "moral turpitude," a finding the court said demonstrated they lacked the good moral character required for naturalization. The judge therefore ordered their naturalization revoked.
"Gaining citizenship after committing serious crimes against the American people is an unacceptable abuse of our immigration system," said former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, quoted in the Justice Department statement.
Why It Matters
The case highlights concerns about the theft of U.S.-based medical research and the potential role of foreign state support in converting proprietary technologies into commercial products abroad. The DOJ framed the denaturalizations as part of its effort to ensure that citizenship remains a privilege and is not obtained through fraudulent or criminal conduct.
Court Language
In its announcement the Justice Department emphasized that the court found the defendants’ wire fraud and related conspiracy sufficiently serious to warrant revoking their naturalized status.
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