Chinese Couple Lose U.S. Citizenship After Stealing Trade Secrets

Federal judge revokes naturalized citizenship of couple convicted of conspiring to steal medical research for China

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:22pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a medical research document or file folder, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the theft of sensitive intellectual property.A harsh, high-contrast image of a stolen medical research document highlights the serious consequences of economic espionage against American institutions.Columbus Today

A federal judge has revoked the naturalized U.S. citizenship of a Chinese couple, Li Chen and Yu Zhou, who were convicted of stealing medical trade secrets from an Ohio hospital and selling them to sources in China. The couple, who initially entered the U.S. on H-1B visas, pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets and wire fraud, and were sentenced to prison.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about foreign nationals exploiting the U.S. immigration system to gain citizenship and then engaging in economic espionage and theft of sensitive intellectual property. It underscores the Department of Justice's efforts to crack down on such abuses and ensure that U.S. citizenship remains a privilege, not a right to be abused.

The details

Li Chen and Yu Zhou, a married Chinese couple, were employed at the Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) in Columbus, Ohio. Chen arrived in the U.S. in 2007 on an H-1B visa, followed by Zhou in 2008. They later adjusted their immigration status and became naturalized U.S. citizens in 2016 and 2017, respectively. However, in 2019, the couple was arrested for stealing medical trade secrets from NCH and selling them to sources in China. They had received nearly $1.5 million in transactions related to the theft.

  • Chen entered the U.S. on an H-1B visa in 2007.
  • Zhou entered the U.S. on an H-1B visa in 2008.
  • Chen and Zhou adjusted their immigration status and became naturalized U.S. citizens in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
  • Chen and Zhou were arrested in 2019 for stealing medical trade secrets.
  • Chen and Zhou pleaded guilty in 2020 and were sentenced to prison.

The players

Li Chen

A Chinese national who entered the U.S. on an H-1B visa in 2007 and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2016. He was convicted of conspiring to steal medical trade secrets from his employer, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and sell them to sources in China.

Yu Zhou

A Chinese national who entered the U.S. on an H-1B visa in 2008 and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2017. She was convicted of conspiring with her husband, Li Chen, to steal medical trade secrets from Nationwide Children's Hospital and sell them to sources in China.

Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH)

A medical research hospital in Columbus, Ohio where Li Chen and Yu Zhou were employed and from which they stole trade secrets.

Pamela Bondi

The Attorney General who stated that gaining citizenship after committing serious crimes against the American people is an unacceptable abuse of the immigration system.

Judge James E. Simmons Jr.

The federal judge who revoked the naturalized U.S. citizenship of Li Chen and Yu Zhou.

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What they’re saying

“Gaining citizenship after committing serious crimes against the American people is an unacceptable abuse of our immigration system.”

— Pamela Bondi, Attorney General

What’s next

The Department of Justice has indicated that this case is part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on foreign nationals exploiting the U.S. immigration system to engage in economic espionage and theft of intellectual property. It is likely that the DOJ will continue to pursue similar cases in the future.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of the U.S. citizenship process and ensuring that it is not abused by those seeking to harm American interests. It serves as a warning to foreign nationals that attempting to gain citizenship through unlawful means will result in severe consequences, including the revocation of that citizenship.