FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A University of Arkansas professor was arrested for wire fraud.
According to Charlie Robbins, spokesperson for the Western District of Arkansas Attorney’s Office, Simon Ang was arrested on a federal criminal complaint for one count of wire fraud.
The complaint charges that Ang had close ties with the Chinese government and Chinese companies, and failed to disclose those ties when required to do so in order to receive grant money from NASA. These materially false representations to NASA and the University of Arkansas resulted in numerous wires to be sent and received that facilitated Ang’s scheme to defraud.
If convicted, Ang faces a statutory maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. If convicted, Ang’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including Ang’s prior criminal record (if any), Ang’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.
“We’re aware of the arrest and are cooperating with the investigation,” a University of Arkansas spokesperson said in a statement.
According to his biography from the University of Arkansas, Ang joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas in 1988 as an assistant professor in Electrical Engineering. He then became an associate professor in 1991 and a full professor in 1995.
