A U.S. jury found that a 64-year-old Chinese-American man was guilty of operating a secret Chinese "police station" in New York City to monitor and track Chinese political dissidents in the U.S., potentially facing up to 30 years in prison.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the jury's verdict, revealing that "Harry" Lu Jianwang, 64, was convicted of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government by secretly establishing and running an "overseas police station" in a Manhattan office building in New York City.
Lu and his co-conspirator Chen Jinping were arrested in April 2023 after investigations uncovered that the office operated on behalf of China's Ministry of Public Security. Chen had previously pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy and acting as an agent of the Chinese government and is awaiting sentencing.
James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant FBI Director, stated that Lu used the police station to target dissidents opposing the Chinese government, furthering China's political agenda. Lu was tasked with collecting personal information and locating pro-democracy activists who fled China to the U.S., aiming to pressure them into returning to China to face criminal charges.
During a 2022 FBI raid, authorities found key evidence including a blue banner reading "Fuzhou Overseas Police Service Station, New York, USA," referencing Fuzhou city in southeastern China. Additionally, officials from the Chinese consulate in New York had visited the office.
Human rights group Safeguard Defenders reported over 100 similar stations across 53 countries worldwide, including Canada and Europe. Governments in several countries have begun cracking down on these offices, which often operate without clear identification.
Chinese authorities continue to deny the existence of such secret police stations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated, "There is no such thing as a secret police station," emphasizing that China complies with international law and respects the sovereignty and judicial processes of all countries.
Currently, Lu Jianwang awaits formal sentencing. The charge of acting as an illegal foreign spy agent carries a potential maximum prison term of 30 years.