A New York Man Pleads Guilty to Establishing Secret Chinese Police Station in Manhattan
A 60-year-old man from New York has pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of China after helping to establish a secret police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood on behalf of the Chinese government. Chen Jinping entered the guilty plea on one count of conspiring to act as an agent of China at Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday.
According to prosecutors, Chen and his co-defendant, “Harry” Lu Jianwang, opened and operated a local branch of China’s Ministry of Public Security in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood in the beginning of 2022. The police station occupied an entire floor and was closed in the fall of 2022.
Authorities alleged that Chen and Lu obstructed justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an official from China’s Ministry of Public Security. They admitted to deleting communications between them and the Chinese official after learning about the ongoing FBI investigation.
Chen faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. As part of his plea deal, the government agreed to dismiss the obstruction of justice charge against him.
The FBI’s National Security Branch described the incident as a “stark reminder” of China’s “insidious efforts” to threaten, harass, and intimidate those who speak against their Communist Party. The FBI remains committed to preserving the rights and freedoms of all people in the country and will defend against transnational repression at every front.
Lu has pleaded not guilty to both of the charges against him and is awaiting trial. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied that a secret Chinese police station existed in New York, stating that China maintains a policy of non-interference in other countries.