Federal jurors convicted Bronx resident Lu Jianwang, also known as “Harry Lu,” for running an undeclared Chinese police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown and obstructing justice, a case that exposed a foreign government’s attempt to operate law enforcement on U.S. soil.
Earlier this week in federal court in Brooklyn, 64-year-old Lu Jianwang was found guilty on two counts in a superseding indictment charging him with acting as an illegal agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China. The verdict follows a one-week trial before United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison and carries potential penalties of up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors said Lu also destroyed evidence related to the scheme, leading to an obstruction count.
Investigators say Lu opened and ran an overseas police station in lower Manhattan under direction from the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security, an agency known for intelligence and domestic law enforcement. The office at 107 East Broadway in Chinatown was searched by the FBI in October 2022, and agents recovered a blue banner stating “Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station, New York, USA,” inside the space. That banner and other seized items were used by federal prosecutors to show the station was created and managed on behalf of the MPS.
Lu’s co-defendant, Chen Jinping, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiring to act as an agent of the PRC and is awaiting sentencing. Federal officials from the Eastern District of New York, the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and the FBI announced the verdict together, underscoring how multiple agencies coordinated the investigation. The coordination speaks to the national security stakes involved when a foreign power tries to run operations inside U.S. cities without notification or consent.
“A police station operating in New York City at the direction of the Chinese government has been exposed, its sinister purpose disrupted, and its founder held accountable for blatantly disregarding the law and our country’s sovereignty,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office remains resolute in protecting the rights of people seeking freedom from repression and speaking out to bring democracy, reform, and human rights to China.” Those words reflect a hard truth: foreign interference that targets dissidents and undermines American sovereignty must be met with firm law enforcement.
“Lu Jianwang used a police station in New York City to target PRC dissidents in furtherance of the Chinese government’s political agenda. May today’s verdict send a message to other foreign agents – the FBI maintains its unwavering resolve to reveal and disrupt the clandestine operations of adversarial nations,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. The bureau emphasized the investigative work that led to exposing the operation and the importance of deterring similar covert activities.
The MPS operates as the PRC’s primary domestic law enforcement and intelligence arm, and prosecutors outlined how the agency routinely monitors dissidents living overseas. According to the government’s case, the New York station was part of a broader, global push by the MPS to establish overseas service points aimed at influencing, threatening, and coercing Chinese nationals abroad. Federal authorities say none of the people involved in setting up the Chinatown operation informed the U.S. government that they were working for a foreign ministry.
At trial, evidence showed Lu was tasked by an MPS handler to collect information about political targets, including locating a pro-democracy advocate who had fled to the United States. In October 2022, during a judicially authorized search, the FBI seized phones used by Lu and Chen and found that WeChat messages between the defendants and their MPS handler had been deleted. Prosecutors argued that the deletions supported the obstruction charge and showed consciousness of guilt.
The prosecution is being handled by the National Security and Cybercrime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Assistant United States Attorneys Antoinette N. Rangel and Lindsey R. Oken are leading the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Magdalena St. Surin and Danielle Barber, and contributions from Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Solomon in the investigation. That roster reflects the specialized legal work required when foreign intelligence and transnational repression intersect with local communities.
This conviction sends a clear message that attempts by foreign governments to operate undeclared law enforcement outposts on American soil will be met with prosecution. The case highlights risks to dissidents and to local sovereignty when foreign intelligence networks try to set up shop in our cities, and it underlines the need for vigilance from law enforcement and policymakers alike. Sentencing will determine the final penalties for Lu, while the broader law enforcement response continues to track similar global initiatives.
