Temple physics prof, 47, is charged in alleged fraud scheme

THE CHAIRMAN of Temple University's physics department, a world-renowned expert in a complex field that most people know nothing about, has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining key technology to help associates in his native People's Republic of China.

Xiaoxing Xi, 47, of Penn Valley, is a whiz in the field of superconductivity, the ability of something to allow electricity to flow through it easily - especially at very low temperatures - which can boost the performance and efficiency of certain technology like MRI machines.

The detailed online professional profiles for Xi had been taken down last night. But Xi has been at Temple since 2009. In addition to being the department chairman, he is the Laura H. Carnell professor of physics. Before working at Temple, he had taught physics at Penn State University.

Temple spokesman Ray Betzner said last night that as of yesterday morning, Xi was still employed there. Betzner declined to comment further, and Xi could not be reached.

Xi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, participated in China's National High Technology Research and Development Program in 2002, according to the indictment.

Between 2002 and 2012, he collaborated with Chinese officials about superconductivity and offered to help them become world leaders in the field, prosecutors allege.

Between 2002 and 2003, he took a sabbatical from his teaching position and worked with a firm described in court documents only as "U.S. Company" in the field of thin-film superconductivity. During that time, people at that company invented a device that revolutionized the field.

Xi got a U.S. Defense Department grant to finance his purchase of the device and relevant research equipment, the indictment says.

The company initially resisted Xi's efforts to buy the breakthrough equipment. Ultimately, the firm agreed to give him the device for a year if he signed an agreement saying that he was using it solely for testing purposes and agreed to not reproduce, sell, transfer or distribute it.

But after he signed the agreement, Xi flouted it to benefit associates in China, prosectors allege.

"In exchange for his efforts to advance the field of superconductivity in China . . . Xi repeatedly sought lucrative and prestigious appointments in China," the indictment said.

The FBI obtained emails confirming delivery of technology to a lab in China and one email in which Xi offered to build a world-class thin-film lab there, the indictment said.

Xi is charged with four counts of wire fraud and related offenses. If convicted, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 80 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million.

Xi appeared in court yesterday and was released on $100,000 bail secured by property. He had not yet retained an attorney.