‘Chinese police station’ in New York: US citizen convicted by jury

New York: A US citizen has been convicted by a jury for helping operate what prosecutors described as a secret police station linked to the Chinese government in New York City. The case relates to an alleged overseas outpost in Manhattan’s Chinatown that was reportedly active in early 2022.

The jury found Lu Jianwang, also known as Harry Lu, guilty of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government and obstructing justice by destroying evidence. Prosecutors said the 64-year-old was involved with a station operating on behalf of China’s Ministry of Public Security.

Authorities alleged that the Manhattan facility was used to support operations connected to China’s Ministry of Public Security. Prosecutors claimed it was part of a broader network of similar overseas sites reported in multiple countries, used to monitor Chinese nationals and dissidents.

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Co-defendant pleaded guilty earlier

Lu’s co-defendant, Chen Jinping, previously pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiring to act as an agent of China in connection with the same alleged operation. He is currently awaiting sentencing.

US prosecutors and the FBI stated that the station was used to target Chinese dissidents and collect information in line with Beijing’s political interests. Officials also alleged that evidence, including messages linked to Chinese officials, was destroyed after an investigation began.

China has denied that such facilities are police stations, describing them instead as overseas service centres offering administrative assistance such as document renewals and pandemic-related support. The Manhattan site was shut down in 2022 after an FBI investigation was launched.