The St. Cloud State University professor accused of smuggling rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory to China is scheduled to appear before a judge in a change of plea hearing later this month.

Yiwei Zheng was arrested by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents in March as a suspect in a scheme of smuggling from 2006-2011. He is facing three charges of smuggling in the fourth degree, one count of conspiracy, making false statements and a Lacey Act violation. The Lacey Act prevents illegal trade of wildlife, fish or plants.

According to district court records a jury trial was scheduled to begin on November 2, but the plea hearing was recently added to the court docket.

The change of plea hearing is scheduled to take place in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on Thursday, October 29. Zheng will appear before Chief Judge John R. Tunheim at 10 a.m.

Zheng is represented by attorneys Timothy Webb and Evan Weiner.

He has continued teaching in the Department of Philosophy since the charges were filed.