A New York City resident has pleaded guilty to running a closed Chinese government police station in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood.
Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced Wednesday that Chen Jinping has pleaded guilty to conspiracy as an agent of the Chinese government.
“My office's priority is to counter the malign activities of foreign governments that target America's local diaspora communities and violate our nation's sovereignty,” Peace said. “Today, on behalf of the National Police of the People’s Republic of China, a participant in a cross-border repression scheme who helped establish a secret police station in the heart of New York City pleaded guilty to conspiracy as an illegal agent. We will continue our efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable people who come to this country to escape the repressive activities of the dictatorship.”
The peace office said in a press release that Chen and co-defendant Lu Jianwang not only acted as illegal agents of the Chinese government, but also obstructed justice, including by concealing evidence of communications with Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) officials. said.
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Chen Jinping told a hearing in a court in Brooklyn, New York, that China's “secret police” had been arrested in Manhattan's Chinatown as part of Beijing's alleged crackdown targeting U.S.-based dissidents. Two New York residents will sit down with attorney Susan Kellan after they were arrested on suspicion of running a police station. New York, USA, April 17, 2023, this courtroom sketch. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg/File photo)
The release states that the two worked together to create the United States' first known overseas police department.
The police station closed in fall 2022, but an entire floor of a Chinatown office building was occupied.
Chen and Lu were accused of helping establish and operate a secret facility.
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Two New York residents have been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of running a closed Chinese government police station in Manhattan's Chinatown district. (U.S. District Court: Eastern District of New York)
The FBI executed a search warrant on an illegal police station in October 2022. During the investigation, investigators questioned Lu and Chen and also seized their cellphones.
Investigators searched the cellphones and found that communications between the two men and MPS officers had been deleted.
Mr. Chen, who is currently facing up to five years in prison, has admitted the charges but not his alleged accomplices and is awaiting trial.
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Two New York residents have been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of running a closed Chinese government police station in Manhattan's Chinatown district. (U.S. District Court: Eastern District of New York)
In a video recorded in March 2023, Mr. Lew appears to be standing alongside New York Mayor Eric Adams at an event where Sen. Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) also spoke.
Adam's office told Fox News at the time that the mayor's attendance at the event was to show support for the local community and the city, and was not an endorsement of any kind.
A spokesperson for Mr. Adams also said that the mayor does not know Mr. Lu.
Video shows suspect accused of colluding with Schumer, Adams to run China's secret police station
Lu Jiangwan (right) stands with New York City Mayor Eric Adams at an event in March 2023. (Luis Chao/Youtube)
Mr. Schumer's office also said the congressman had never met Mr. Lew and did not know who he was.
The event was held as a fundraiser for the Fujian American Association, a cultural nonprofit affiliated with the Chinese province.
Lu also met New York Democratic Rep. Grace Meng at a fundraising event in April 2022, the Daily Caller reported, citing images found.
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Records show Mr. Lu has donated at least $32,625 since 2006 to New York elected officials, including Mr. Adams and New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.
