Chinese National Who Applied to U.S. Air Force Indicted in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – Two Chinese nationals turned themselves in Thursday on charges that accuse one of a naturalization crime and both of a firearm crime.
Biqi “Ashley” Huang, 25, and Wentian Du, 35, were indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on September 9. Huang now faces one count of making a false statement in a naturalization proceeding and one count of fraudulent acquisition of a firearm. Du faces one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm.
Both appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty.
The indictment says Huang made a false statement under oath in a matter relating to naturalization between August 1, 2025, and July 27, 2026. It also says she made a false statement to a firearm dealer on May 28, 2026, in connection with the purchase of a firearm. Du illegally possessed a firearm between June 1 and August 26 of 2026, the indictment says.
Motions seeking to detain both in jail until trial say Huang entered the U.S. on a student visa on July 13, 2023, and attended graduate school in St. Louis. She married on May 22, 2024, and received her Legal Permanent Resident status after misrepresenting the status of her marriage in an Oct. 14, 2025 interview and on her LPR application, her motion says. Du was issued a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa in September 2022 and entered the U.S. on Oct. 2, 2022. About a year later, he applied for asylum, his motion says.
In June, Huang moved to New York and met Du, her motion says. She subsequently applied to join the U.S. Air Force, telling a recruiter that she wanted to join to get her citizenship as soon as possible, then divorce and marry Du, the motion says. During the investigation, FBI agents realized that Du tried to purchase a firearm on Oct. 18, 2025, the motions say. The purchase was denied and Du was notified why. He rented a firearm at least 13 times and his credit card was used on May 29, 2026, to buy a 9mm pistol, the motion says. Huang filled out a form falsely stating that she was the actual buyer, the motions say.
Making a false statement in a naturalization proceeding is punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine. The firearm charges against Du and Huang are punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated the case, with the assistance of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.
Contact
Robert Patrick, Public Affairs Officer, robert.patrick@usdoj.gov.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri
