A former Iowa State University researcher who admitted he faked data to make it appear an experimental AIDS vaccine was working has reached a plea deal. Dong Pyou Han had been charged with four counts of making a false statement and pled guilty to two counts.
Prosecutors say Han spiked the blood of rabbits with components of human blood to make it appear the AIDS vaccine he was testing was working.
The 57-year-old Han admitted in his plea that the false data was reported to the National Institutes of Health, which had provided $19 million for the research. Han resigned from ISU following the accusations. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each count. He will be sentenced on May 29th.
Here are the details on the plea agreement: Han Plea Agreement PDF