Two Arrested For Allegedly Operating Illegal Chinese ‘Police Station’ In NYC

Today, a complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging two defendants in connection with opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, for the Ministry of Public Security (“MPS”) of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).  Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping were arrested earlier this morning at their homes in New York City.  Their initial appearances are scheduled this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, FBI, New York Field Office, announced the arrests and charges.

This prosecution reveals the Chinese government’s flagrant violation of our nation’s sovereignty by establishing a secret police station in the middle of New York City,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “As alleged, the defendants were directed to do the PRC’s bidding, including helping locate a Chinese dissident living in the United States, and obstructed our investigation by deleting their communications with a Chinese Ministry of Public Security official.  Such a police station has no place here in New York City—or any American community.”

“The PRC, through its repressive security apparatus, established a secret physical presence in New York City to monitor and intimidate dissidents and those critical of its government,” stated Assistant Attorney General Olsen. “The PRC’s actions go far beyond the bounds of acceptable nation-state conduct. We will resolutely defend the freedoms of all those living in our country from the threat of authoritarian repression.”

“The defendants, operating on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China, are alleged to have operated an undeclared police station in downtown New York City,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.  “Upon learning of the FBI’s investigation into the police station, the defendants erased their communications to conceal their activities.  Clandestine police stations operating within our communities are not only illegal but infringe on the United States’ freedom – they will not be tolerated.   The FBI is unwavering in our mission to protect the American people and uphold our Constitution; anyone working on behalf of a hostile foreign nation to violate our national security and freedoms will be held accountable.”

As alleged in the complaint, Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping are charged with conspiring to act as agents of the PRC government as well as obstructing justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official (the “MPS Official”).  While acting under the direction and control of the MPS Official, the defendants worked together to establish the first known overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS.  The police station—which closed in the fall of 2022—occupied an entire floor in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown.  Lu and Chen helped open and operate the clandestine police station.  None of the participants in the scheme informed the U.S. government that they were helping the PRC government surreptitiously open and operate an undeclared MPS police station on U.S. soil.