Former NYU Researcher Takes Plea Deal Amidst China Bribery Charges

Charged with accepting bribes from a Chinese medical imaging company, former NYU professor and Chinese national Yudong Zhu has agreed to a plea deal ahead of his April 16 trial. Zhu is accused of sending confidential research to Shanghai-based United Imaging Healthcare in exchange for money and other financial incentives.

Zhu, who was indicted on eight counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud, among other offenses, pleaded guilty yesterday to making false statements on an NIH grant, Manhattan federal court records show.

Under the plea agreement, Zhu faces minimal prison time, but risks being deported.

Prosecutors allege that Zhu failed to report his UIH and Shenzen Institute of Advanced Technology connections to the NIH and did not disclose the fact that he owned a patent related to his research.

Zhu was charged in 2013 along with two other NYU researchers, Xing Yang and Ye Li. The charges against Yang were eventually dismissed, while Li was indicted by a grand jury with Zhu. Li is believed to have fled to China in advance of charges being filed. — Jason Scott