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US alleges visa fraud scheme targeting American research

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has alleged a visa fraud scheme intended to help Chinese government employees enter the United States to recruit research talent.

Federal prosecutors say Zhongsan Liu was arrested Monday and charged in federal court in New York with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

Prosecutors say Liu conspired to get visa for employees under the pretense that they were research scholars, when their actual goal was to recruit U.S. talent.

Officials allege the fraud occurred between 2017 and this year as Liu led the New York office of China Association for International Exchange of Personnel. That office recruits scientists, academics, engineers and other experts to work in China.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Liu had a lawyer.

Eric Tucker, The Associated Press