Chen Jinping, a 60-year-old resident of New York City, has pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The charges stem from Chen’s role in establishing and running an unauthorized overseas police station in Manhattan, allegedly under the direction of the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
Prosecutors revealed that this covert police station, believed to be the first of its kind in the United States, was created to monitor, intimidate, and silence Chinese dissidents and activists residing in the country. The station was reportedly operated on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS, a central law enforcement arm of the Chinese government.
“Today’s acknowledgment of guilt is a stark reminder of the insidious efforts taken by the PRC government to threaten, harass, and intimidate those who speak against their Communist Party,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “These blatant violations will not be tolerated on U.S. soil. The FBI remains committed to preserving the rights and freedoms of all people in our country and will defend against transnational repression at every front.”
“A priority of my office has been to counteract the malign activities of foreign governments that violate our nation’s sovereignty by targeting local diaspora communities in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “Today, a participant in a transnational repression scheme who worked to establish a secret police station in the middle of New York City on behalf of the national police force of the People’s Republic of China has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as an illegal agent. We will continue our efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable persons who come to this country to escape the repressive activities of authoritarian regimes.”
As alleged, Chen Jinping and co-defendant “Harry” Lu Jianwang conspired to act as illegal agents of the PRC government and also obstructed justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official. While acting under the direction and control of the MPS official, the defendants worked together to establish the first known overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS. The police station — which closed in the fall of 2022 — occupied an entire floor in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Lu and Chen helped open and operate the clandestine police station. None of the participants in the scheme informed the U.S. government that they were helping the PRC government surreptitiously open and operate an undeclared MPS police station on U.S. soil.
The station, which was situated in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown, ceased operations in late 2022 following an extensive FBI investigation. Federal agents uncovered the full scope of Chen’s activities through court-authorized searches and interviews, which revealed that Chen had deliberately deleted communications with MPS officials to conceal his involvement.
Chen, along with his co-defendant Lu Jianwang, also known as ‘Harry’ Lu, allegedly conspired to obstruct justice by destroying evidence of their communications after becoming aware of the FBI’s investigation. While Chen pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, the obstruction of justice charge will be dropped as part of his plea agreement. He now faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
In contrast, Lu Jianwang has pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace reinforced this sentiment, stating, “We will continue our efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable persons who come to this country to escape the repressive activities of authoritarian regimes.”
A date for Chen Jinping’s sentencing has not yet been set.
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