Michigan University researchers Yunqing Jian, 33, was arrested in June and charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the U.S., false statements, and visa fraud. She and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, 34, smuggled Fusarium graminearum, a fungus the Department of Justice noted is classified by scientific literature as a “potential agroterrorism weapon.” Jian wasn’t sentenced to any further prison time beyond the five months she has already spent; she will instead be quickly deported back to China.

Though the five-month prison sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan DeClercq was well below the two years Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Martin was seeking, a press release from the DOJ was optimistic.

“Today’s guilty plea underscores the critical role CBP plays in protecting the United States from biological threats that could endanger public health and harm our agricultural economy,” CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon said in a statement. “This case highlights the dangers posed by individuals attempting to smuggle potentially hazardous materials into the country, even under the guise of academic research.”

“We must stop Chinese Nationals who are smuggling potentially catastrophic biomaterials. We cannot allow these smugglers to work in the shadows at the University of Michigan. This felony conviction and sentence are a small but important measure against secret biological threats from China,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said.

The prosecution in the case struggled to prove Jian’s intent despite the possibly catastrophic impact of the fungus if it were used maliciously.

“I don’t have evidence that she had evil intent,” Martin told a judge, according to the Associated Press. “But I don’t have evidence that she was doing this for the betterment of mankind either.”

During her court appearance, Jian relied on a letter she’d sent in as an apology.

“I did not follow the rules because I was under pressure to proceed with research and produce results,” she wrote. “The research was not to harm anyone, but instead to find ways to protect crops from disease.”

Jian pleaded guilty to smuggling and making false statements to investigators in exchange for having the conspiracy charge dropped.

The Chinese national’s case drew national attention over its espionage implications, posing a danger to the entire U.S. agricultural sector.

According to the arrest affidavit, the smuggling was done from August 2022 to July 2024, when Liu was arrested. In the first smuggling attempt, Liu instructed Jian to smuggle the fungus in through one of her pairs of boots, an intercepted WeChat conversation showed.

In January 2024, Jian attempted to get a third party to smuggle Fusarium graminearum to her by shipping it in a statistics book. The package was intercepted, and the fungus uncovered.

The “noxious” fungus causes billions of dollars in economic losses every year, causing the “head blight” disease in wheat, barley, maize, and rice. Its toxins can cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in both humans and livestock, the release noted. Ten samples were recovered in that package alone.

‘AGROTERRORISM’ FUNGUS WAS FIRST SMUGGLED INTO US IN 2022 INSIDE CHINESE NATIONAL’S BOOTS

Beijing was quick to deny any involvement.

“I don’t know the specific situation, but I would like to emphasize that the Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests,” Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the United States, told Fox News in June.