New York Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Secret Chinese Police Station in Manhattan

A 60-year-old New York resident, Chen Jinping, has admitted to running an unauthorized police station for the Chinese government in Manhattan, marking a significant case in the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat foreign influence operations.

Chen pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiring to act as an unregistered agent for the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The facility, located in Manhattan’s Chinatown, operated under the direction of the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Chen now faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for next year.

The illegal police station, which was closed in late 2022, provided basic services such as renewing Chinese driving licenses but also engaged in more controversial activities. According to U.S. officials, the station helped Beijing track down a pro-democracy activist of Chinese descent residing in California, reflecting broader efforts by the Chinese government to suppress dissent abroad.

Chen, along with co-defendant Lu Jianwang, 62, was arrested in April 2023 on charges of acting as unregistered foreign agents. While Chen has admitted his role, Lu maintains his innocence and is awaiting trial.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace described Chen’s actions as part of a “transnational repression scheme” designed to serve the repressive goals of the PRC while violating U.S. sovereignty. FBI Assistant Director James Dennehy added that the operation exemplified the PRC’s attempts to extend its influence and silence critics within diaspora communities.

This case is one of several highlighting alleged efforts by China to exert influence on U.S. soil. In 2020, the Justice Department charged individuals involved in a campaign to coerce a New Jersey resident wanted by Beijing into returning to China. Similarly, in September 2024, Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, was accused of acting secretly on behalf of the Chinese government.

The Manhattan police station occupied an entire floor of an office building and was raided by the FBI in October 2022. Investigators found evidence suggesting that Chen and Lu had deleted communications with an MPS official from their devices.

While such stations may appear to provide innocuous consular services, U.S. officials warn that they often serve dual purposes, including efforts to surveil and intimidate members of the Chinese diaspora critical of Beijing.

The case underscores U.S. concerns about foreign governments’ attempts to influence domestic affairs and target diaspora communities. Authorities have pledged to continue efforts to counter such activities, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding American sovereignty and protecting communities from foreign intimidation.

This case marks a critical step in addressing the broader challenge of foreign influence operations in the United States.