Juan Tang, a Chinese scientist who was charged with visa fraud has been arrested.
The United States authorities claimed that Tang who concealed her military ties was arrested after she left the Chinese consulate in San Francisco to seek medical care for her asthma.
Alexandra Negin, an assistant Federal Public defender said, “Juan who holds a doctorate in cellular biology, entered the United States on Dec. 27, 2019, to work at the University of California, Davis as a visiting researcher in the Department of Radiation Oncology.”
Alexandra said this in a filing, asking for 37 year old Juan’s release on bail.
Juan who was the last of the four charged with visa fraud is being held at a Sacramento County jail on behalf of federal authorities after her arrest last week.
The Justice Department said, “Juan and three other scientists living in the U.S., face charges of lying about their status as members of China’s People’s Liberation Army. All were charged with visa fraud.”
Alexandra said, “Tang went to the consulate to seek help and remained there after FBI agents questioned her at her Davis apartment on June 20 and executed a search warrant, seizing her passport and visa.”
She further added that “A criminal complaint was filed under seal on June 26 but Tang did not learn she had been charged with a crime until her July 23 arrest.”
Alexandra said she believed federal officers were surveilling the Chinese consulate and after seeing her leave in a vehicle with consular staff, followed them to a medical office where “Ms. Juan was seen, medically cleared and then arrested.”
Negin wrote that Juan does not constitute danger to the community and could have remained in the consulate to avoid arrest.
“Instead she agreed to leave consulate property knowing this would allow law enforcement to arrest her,” she said.
Tang is married and has an 8-year-old daughter who is in China with Tang’s husband.
