A secret ‘illegal police station’ for China was found on a floor of a NYC building, says DOJ
A floor in a New York City building operated as an “illegal police station” for the Chinese government, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
On Wednesday, New York City resident Chen Jinping, 60, admitted his involvement with this clandestine police station located in Chinatown, Lower Manhattan, as indicated in a DOJ announcement.
“Today’s plea agreement holds the defendant responsible for his outrageous actions in managing an unreported foreign police station for the PRC’s national police – an explicit challenge to U.S. sovereignty and a threat to our community that will not be endured,” commented Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the DOJ’s National Security Division.
Olsen added that the federal Department of Justice “will relentlessly pursue anyone attempting to support the PRC’s efforts to expand their oppressive influence within the United States.”
This police station was shut down in 2022 following an FBI raid, as stated in the release. Jinping and his accomplice Lu Jianwang, both U.S. citizens, were first arrested on April 17, 2023. As per the DOJ, Jianwang has yet to enter a plea for the same charge or for obstruction of justice.
FBI National Security Branch Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells remarked that this case reflects a broader strategy by China to “intimidate, harass, and threaten those who criticize their Communist Party.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian denied the existence of “so-called secret police stations” at a recent press briefing.
“China has consistently adhered to international law and honored the legal sovereignty of all nations,” Jian stated.
The Chinese government claims that there are centers outside of China run by local volunteers, not official police officers, designed to assist Chinese nationals with document renewals and offer various services. Beijing also accuses Washington of fabricating these allegations to tarnish China’s reputation, as reported by Reuters.
Jinping faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison, according to the DOJ. YSL News has reached out to his lawyer for additional comments.
“These blatant infractions will not be accepted on U.S. territory,” Wells emphasized. “The FBI is committed to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of everyone in our nation and will actively counter transnational oppression on all fronts.”
Contributing: Reuters
