BREAKING: FBI busts Ohio-based researcher for lying about his ties to China

"As this case demonstrates, Chinese government-supported talent plans continue to encourage people, regardless of nationality, to commit crimes, such as fraud to obtain US taxpayer-funded research," said Robert R. Wells, acting assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division.

"The FBI and our partners will continue to rigorously investigate these illegal activities to protect our government, educational, and research institutions.”

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the United States Health and Human Services conducted law enforcement activity at Dr. Qing Wang's place of residence in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Dr. Wang was arrested Wednesday without incident by law enforcement, and was taken into custody just after noon.

"This is not a case of simple omission,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Dr. Wang deliberately failed to disclose his Chinese grants and foreign positions and even engaged in a pervasive pattern of fraud to avoid criminal culpability. The collective efforts of the FBI, HHS-OIG, and Cleveland Clinic officials demonstrate our commitment to hold those like Dr. Wang accountable."

“As alleged in the complaint, this defendant misled the National Institutes of Health about support he received and research he conducted in the People’s Republic of China,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio.

“Federal law enforcement remains vigilant to fraudulent claims for grant support from any researcher who fails to disclose support from foreign governments and competing research interests in other countries. We appreciate the cooperation of this defendant’s former employer, the Cleveland Clinic, in the investigation and highlight the important partnerships between federal agencies, law enforcement, and the private sector demonstrated in this case.”