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US citizen admits conspiring to be Chinese agent in NY
A naturalized U.S. citizen confessed to acting as an agent of the Chinese government in New York by running a secret "overseas police office." Penalties threaten.
US citizen admits conspiring to be Chinese agent in NY
A U.S. citizen who died in 2023 in connection with the operation of a “surveillance police station” who was arrested in New York City admitted in federal court on Wednesday to collaborating with the Chinese state.
Details of the arrest and confession
Chen Jinping, a naturalized U.S. citizen living in New York City, faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government.
“Today, a participant in a transnational repression scheme who worked to establish a secret police station in the heart of New York City on behalf of the National Police of the People's Republic of China confessed to acting as an illegal agent,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement after the hearing.
The role of Chen Jinping
Through a translator, Chen explained in court that he wanted to remove an online article on behalf of the Chinese government in 2022. He read a brief statement in which he admitted knowingly working with others to act as an agent for China.
His court-appointed attorney declined to comment to CNN about the plea deal.
The allegations and the further proceedings
In the fall of 2022, Chen had an article "about the operation of the PRC government's overseas police station" removed by a Chinese media outlet at the direction of a Chinese government official, according to the indictment.
The FBI arrested Chen and another man in New York in April 2023 and charged them with conspiracy to act as foreign agents and an additional charge of aiding and abetting criminal prosecution for allegedly deleting messages with Chinese Ministry of Public Security officials.
Federal prosecutors by then had charged dozens of other alleged Chinese agents who sought to silence and harass dissidents within the United States.
Closing of the police station and outlook
The New York police station was closed after a search warrant was executed at the location in 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Chen's co-defendant is also in confessional discussions with the U.S. attorney's office, court records show.
Chen, who was released on bail after his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30. His son and daughter sat in the front row of the court during Wednesday's hearing.