{"id":187163,"date":"2023-04-17T14:33:56","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T18:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breaking911.com\/?p=187163"},"modified":"2023-04-17T14:33:56","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T18:33:56","slug":"significant-national-security-matter-2-arrested-for-allegedly-operating-illegal-chinese-police-station-in-nyc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breaking911.com\/significant-national-security-matter-2-arrested-for-allegedly-operating-illegal-chinese-police-station-in-nyc\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Significant National Security Matter’ | 2 Arrested For Allegedly Operating Illegal Chinese \u2018Police Station’ In NYC"},"content":{"rendered":"
DOJ accuses China of using ‘police station’ to spy on, harass dissidents inside US<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
For Immediate Release: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York<\/em><\/p>\n
Today, a complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging two defendants in connection with opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, for the Ministry of Public Security (\u201cMPS\u201d) of the People\u2019s Republic of China (\u201cPRC\u201d).\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping were arrested earlier this morning at their homes in New York City.\u00a0 Their initial appearances are scheduled this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho.<\/p>\n
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\u2019s National Security Division; and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, FBI, New York Field Office, announced the arrests and\u00a0charges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis prosecution reveals the Chinese government\u2019s flagrant violation of our nation\u2019s sovereignty by establishing a secret police station in the middle of New York City,\u201d stated United States Attorney Peace.\u00a0 \u201cAs alleged, the defendants were directed to do the PRC\u2019s bidding, including helping locate a Chinese dissident living in the United States, and obstructed our investigation by deleting their communications with a Chinese Ministry of Public Security official.\u00a0 Such a police station has no place here in New York City\u2014or any American community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PRC, through its repressive security apparatus, established a secret physical presence in New York City to monitor and intimidate dissidents and those critical of its government,\u201d stated Assistant Attorney General Olsen. \u201cThe PRC\u2019s actions go far beyond the bounds of acceptable nation-state conduct.\u00a0We\u00a0will resolutely defend the freedoms of all those living in our country from the threat of\u00a0authoritarian repression.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendants, operating on behalf of the government of the People\u2019s Republic of China, are alleged to have operated an undeclared police station in downtown New York City,\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.\u00a0 \u201cUpon learning of the FBI\u2019s investigation into the police station, the defendants erased their communications to conceal their activities.\u00a0 Clandestine police stations operating within our communities are not only illegal but infringe on the United States’ freedom – they will not be tolerated.\u00a0\u00a0 The FBI is unwavering in our mission to protect the American people and uphold our Constitution; anyone working on behalf of a hostile foreign nation to violate our national security and freedoms will be held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n
As alleged in the complaint, Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping are charged with conspiring to act as agents of the PRC government as well as obstructing justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official (the \u201cMPS Official\u201d).\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The police station\u2014which closed in the fall of 2022\u2014occupied an entire floor in an office building in Manhattan\u2019s Chinatown.\u00a0 Lu and Chen helped open and operate the clandestine police station.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
Before helping open the police station in early 2022, Lu had a longstanding relationship of trust with PRC law enforcement, including the MPS.\u00a0 Since 2015, and through the operation of the secret police station, Lu was directed to assist the PRC government\u2019s repressive activities on U.S. soil:<\/p>\n
\n
- In 2015,\u00a0<\/a>during PRC President Xi Jinping\u2019s visit to the United States, Lu participated in counterprotests in Washington, D.C. against members of a religion that is forbidden under PRC law.\u00a0\u00a0A deputy director of the MPS awarded Lu a plaque for the work he performed on behalf of the PRC government.<\/li>\n
- <\/a>In 2018, Lu was enlisted in efforts to cause a purported PRC fugitive to return to the PRC.\u00a0 The victim reported being repeatedly harassed to return to the PRC, including through threats of violence made to the victim and the victim\u2019s family in the United States and in the PRC.<\/li>\n
- <\/a>In 2022, the MPS Official sought Lu\u2019s assistance in locating an individual living in California who is a pro-democracy activist.\u00a0 In turn, Lu enlisted the help of another co-conspirator.\u00a0 Later, when confronted by the FBI about these conversations, Lu denied that they occurred.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In October 2022, the FBI conducted a judicially authorized search of the illegal police station.\u00a0 In connection with the search, FBI agents interviewed both Lu and Chen and seized their phones.\u00a0 In reviewing the contents of these phones, FBI agents observed that communications between Lu and Chen, on the one hand, and the MPS Official, on the other, appeared to have been deleted.\u00a0 In subsequent consensual interviews, Lu and Chen admitted to the FBI that they had deleted their communications with the MPS Official after learning about the ongoing FBI investigation, thus preventing the FBI from learning the full extent of the MPS\u2019s directions for the overseas police station.<\/p>\n
If convicted of conspiring to act as agents of the PRC, the defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.\u00a0 The obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n
The charges in the complaints are allegations, and the\u00a0defendants are\u00a0presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.<\/p>\n
The government\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\u2019s National Security and Cybercrime Section.\u00a0 Assistant United States\u00a0Attorneys\u00a0Alexander A. Solomon, and Antoinette N. Rangel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division\u2019s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.<\/p>\n
The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States.\u00a0 If you believe that you are or have been a victim of transnational repression, please visit\u00a0https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/investigate\/counterintelligence\/transnational-repression<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Defendants<\/u>:<\/b><\/p>\n
Lu Jianwang
\nAge:\u00a0 61
\nBronx, New York<\/p>\nE.D.N.Y. Docket No.\u00a0 23-MJ-265<\/p>\n
Chen Jinping
\nAge: 59
\nManhattan, New York<\/p>\nE.D.N.Y. Docket No.\u00a0 23-MJ-265<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DOJ accuses China of using ‘police station’ to spy on, harass dissidents inside US For Immediate Release: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York Today, a complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging two defendants in connection with opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3507,"featured_media":187164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[1,54,37],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n
'Significant National Security Matter' | 2 Arrested For Allegedly Operating Illegal Chinese \u2018Police Station' In NYC - Breaking911<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n