Chinese American citizen Chen Jinping faces up to three years in prison for running a secret Chinese Communist Party police station in the heart of Manhattan, exposing a shocking infiltration of CCP operations on American soil.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison sentence for Chen Jinping, who pleaded guilty to operating a secret Chinese police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown
- The covert station was established in February 2022 under the America ChangLe Association as a front for conducting transnational repression activities for the CCP
- Chen was caught deleting WeChat communications with Chinese officials, obstructing justice by preventing FBI from recovering evidence
- This case marks the first known prosecution related to the CCP’s practice of operating undeclared police stations in foreign countries
- Sentencing is scheduled for May 30 in Brooklyn Federal Court before District Judge Nina Morrison
CCP’s Secret Police Station Uncovered in America
The Chinese Communist Party’s aggressive foreign influence operations came into sharp focus with the arrest of Chen Jinping, a Chinese American citizen who operated an unauthorized police station in New York City. Chen pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiring to act as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. This case represents a significant breach of American sovereignty, with Chen working directly with China’s Ministry of Public Security to establish a covert operations center in Manhattan’s Chinatown under the innocuous-sounding America ChangLe Association.
Chen and co-defendant Lu Jianwang were arrested in April 2023 following investigations that revealed their station was part of a broader network of illegal CCP outposts around the world. As one of only three individuals trusted by CCP officials to run this operation, Chen’s activities posed a direct threat to U.S. national security and to Chinese dissidents living in America. The station, established in February 2022, served as a base for transnational repression schemes targeting critics of the Chinese regime, including surveillance of a victim in California as part of China’s notorious “Operation Fox Hunt.”
US prosecutors seek a 3-year sentence for a Chinese man, who pleaded guilty to operating a secret Chinese police station in NYC. The case highlights Beijing’s transnational repression and the illegal enforcement of its laws abroad.https://t.co/JPHjClYBQz
Prosecutors Seek 3-Year…
— Spotlight on China (@spotlightoncn) May 27, 2025
Prosecutors Push for Serious Consequences
Federal prosecutors have taken a firm stance on Chen’s illegal activities, seeking a three-year prison sentence to reflect the gravity of his actions. “Such a sentence would constitute just punishment, reflect the severity of the defendant’s conduct, promote respect for the law, and provide the specific and general deterrent effect called for by the defendant’s offense,” prosecutors stated in court filings. The government’s position underscores the serious national security implications of allowing foreign governments to establish unauthorized law enforcement operations on American soil.
“Obstruction of justice is a particularly insidious offense because it undermines law enforcement’s capacity to fully investigate serious criminal activity and erodes public confidence in the legal system,” prosecutors argued, referencing Chen’s deletion of WeChat communications with Chinese officials.
The prosecution emphasized that Chen’s actions prioritized the CCP’s impunity over U.S. sovereignty, legitimacy, and the rule of law. By working directly with Chinese officials to target individuals on American soil, Chen participated in a direct assault on American principles of freedom and protection from foreign persecution. The Justice Department’s vigorous pursuit of this case sends a clear message that President Trump’s administration will not tolerate foreign interference or the establishment of unauthorized law enforcement operations within our borders.
Defense Seeks Leniency
Chen’s defense attorney, Susan Kellman, has argued for a more lenient sentence, requesting supervised release and community service rather than imprisonment. Kellman contended that her client is deserving of the Court’s mercy, citing letters from family and friends attesting to his character. These pleas for leniency, however, must be weighed against the consistent pattern of illegal activities Chen engaged in on behalf of a hostile foreign power.
Prosecutors acknowledged the letters of support but maintained that Chen’s dedication to unlawful activities over an extended period warrants the recommended sentence. The government’s filing specifically noted the harm caused to victims who were harassed and surveilled due to Chen and his co-conspirators’ actions. These victims, often Chinese dissidents seeking refuge in America from CCP persecution, found themselves targeted by the very oppression they had fled, now operating illegally on American soil.
Broader Implications for National Security
This case represents just the tip of the iceberg in the CCP’s global campaign of transnational repression. Similar unauthorized police stations have been identified in multiple countries, highlighting China’s bold disregard for international norms and sovereignty. The prosecution of Chen Jinping marks the first known case related to these stations in the United States, setting an important precedent for how America will respond to such incursions going forward.
As Chen awaits sentencing on May 30 in Brooklyn Federal Court before District Judge Nina Morrison, the outcome will send a strong message about America’s resolve to protect its sovereignty and the safety of those seeking refuge from authoritarian regimes. The three-year sentence sought by prosecutors would establish that foreign governments cannot operate shadow law enforcement agencies on American soil without facing serious consequences, reinforcing President Trump’s commitment to putting America first and protecting our national security interests.
