The counts against Tao were based on government allegations that he was employed as a Changjiang Distinguished Professor at Fuzhou University through the Changjiang Scholars Program and failed to inform the Department of Energy and other grant-making agencies and KU. And they also indicated that had they known he was working in China or was setting up a lab there, that would not have mattered to them in their grant decision process.” “There was no evidence to support a charge that anyone was defrauded because the (grant) agencies themselves said they were happy with the work (Tao) performed for them. “Sometimes, unfortunately, juries get things wrong,” Zeidenberg added. “We take that as a positive sign and we are looking to getting this verdict overturned,” Zeidenberg said. District Judge Julie Robinson asked for briefing on Tao’s motion for a judgment of acquittal, and has yet to set a sentencing date. Zeidenberg, one of Tao’s attorneys, said he was disappointed in the verdict but noted the judge said there were significant issues with the evidence in the case. The jury acquitted Tao of two additional counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements.
Thursday’s verdict followed a two-week-long trial that drew the attention of civil rights activists, who claimed the initiative unfairly targeted Chinese Americans.
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