US helps secure arrest of alleged Chinese hacker accused of stealing COVID-19 research for CCP

FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday confirmed reports that a suspected Chinese hacker has been arrested in Italy, who has been accused of hacking United States universities and stealing COVID-19 research for the Chinese government.

The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Xu Zewei, who has been charged in a nine-count indictment along with co-defendant, 44-year-old Zhang Yu.  Xu was arrested in Milan last week.

The two men allegedly hacked computer systems between 2020 and 2021, including the HAFNIUM computer intrusion campaign that compromised thousands of computers globally. Xu is expected to be extradited to the U.S.

"Xu is accused of hacking U.S. universities and stealing critical COVID-19 research on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party," Patel posted to X. "The CCP’s relentless attacks on our institutions will not go unanswered. The FBI will hunt down those who threaten our national security—wherever they hide."

Xu has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count, conspiracy to cause damage to and obtain information by unauthorized access to protected computers, two counts of obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, two counts of intentional damage to a protected computer and aggravated identity theft.

The Justice Department says Zhang Yu is still at large.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.