By Trend News Line 2024-05-24 19:59:52.
purchasing in large quantities.” The company declined to sell to her after her UF email address was found to be associated with previous fraud, court records showed.
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Yu’s attorney, Eric Linder of Tampa, declined to comment on the case.
The Justice Department said Yu’s scheme involved at least seven co-conspirators. Prosecutors said he also directed students to use their UF email addresses to purchase equipment for his company, including a $2,400 commercial-grade freezer.
The case was investigated by the university’s police department, FBI and Department of Homeland Security. The government said the scheme cost the biomedical company $2.7 million in losses.
The plot was discovered when a company employee noticed that an order of 500 vials of fentanyl was being shipped to the UF campus, but the university’s stockroom supervisor said the lab hadn’t ordered the substance, prosecutors said. The company then notified the FBI.
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“This is the kind of case that keeps me up at night, and it’s shocking to see something like this happening at a prestigious institution like the University of Florida,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson.
The university said it has hired an outside law firm to conduct an independent review of its research compliance practices and is revoking access to its labs for the students and employee implicated in the scheme.
UF also said it has taken measures to ensure that similar fraud schemes can’t happen in the future.
“We are deeply disturbed by the allegations in this case, which violate the values of our institution,” spokesman Orlando said. “We are committed to ensuring that our research programs are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and compliance.”
The university has also reached out to the Chinese Students and Scholars Association to offer support and resources for its members.
Meanwhile, Zheng said she is hopeful that the charges against her will be dropped and that she can finish her degree at the university.
“I want to put this behind me and move on with my life,” she said. “I never intended to harm anyone, and I hope people can see that.”
The investigation into the illegal scheme is ongoing, and more charges could be filed as the case unfolds.
For now, the University of Florida is left to grapple with the fallout of the scandal, as it works to rebuild its reputation and ensure that its research labs are secure from similar fraudulent activities in the future..
UF employee students illegal plot ship drugs toxins China
implicated UF employee students illegal plot ship drugs toxins China.
