Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in Chinatown Police Station Case
In New York City, a U.S. citizen has pled guilty to federal charges related to his role in establishing a secret police station for the Chinese government in Chinatown. Sixty-one-year-old Chen Jinping, who resides in Manhattan, could face a prison sentence ranging from no time at all to up to five years, in addition to the potential loss of his U.S. citizenship. His sentencing at the Brooklyn Federal Court is scheduled for May 30.
Details of the Case
Chen and another individual, Lu Jianwang, who is also 61 and lives in the Bronx, were arrested last year as part of a wider investigation into China’s Ministry of Public Security. This investigation revealed a series of online operations designed to harass dissidents and disrupt their virtual meetings. In court, Chen stated, “I knowingly agreed to act as an agent of a foreign country, a foreign government.” He further admitted to attempting to remove an online article that discussed the police station’s activities.
Admitting Guilt
During a hearing, Chen was pressed to identify China as the country he collaborated with, as he accepted a plea for conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. The police station in question, dubbed the “Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station,” was allegedly opened in early 2022 out of a Chinatown location at 107 E. Broadway.
Prosecutors’ Claims
The federal complaint lists at least one specific victim of the secret police station. This victim is a pro-democracy advocate residing in California, who had worked as an adviser to a U.S. congressional candidate. Lu was reportedly directed by the Chinese police to track this advocate’s home, leading to multiple harassing incidents, including a break-in after the advocate delivered a pro-democracy speech.
Connection to U.S. Politics
Coincidentally, around the time Lu was surveilling this advocate, a retired Chinese police officer faced charges for an alleged plot to undermine the same congressional candidate’s campaign. While the specific individual is not named in the court documents, the description aligns closely with Xiong Yan, a notable figure from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests who later served in the U.S. military.
Nonprofit Organization’s Role
Chen and Lu were involved in a nonprofit established in 2013 that claimed to serve as a social hub for people from Fujian, China. This organization, however, has been accused of deceiving the public by engaging in activities that required registration with the U.S. Attorney General—a requirement they reportedly ignored. Although they stated they were aiding Fuzhou residents with administrative tasks like renewing Chinese driver’s licenses, the reality was starkly different.
Aftermath and Investigation Continuation
Since the FBI raided the police station in October 2022, it has since been shut down. However, the full extent of the operations carried out there remains murky, primarily because Chen and Lu allegedly deleted all communications with their contact in the Ministry of Public Security after the raid.
The outcome of Chen’s case will be closely watched, as it raises significant concerns regarding foreign interference and the safety of dissidents. As many await the upcoming sentencing, it highlights the ongoing challenges in the battle against espionage and international harassment on U.S. soil.
