Chinese American operative Chen Jinping faces up to three years in prison after establishing a secret Chinese Communist Party police station in the heart of Manhattan, targeting dissidents and undermining American sovereignty on U.S. soil.
Key Takeaways
- Chen Jinping pleaded guilty to operating as an illegal agent for the Chinese Communist Party from a covert police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
- Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison sentence at his May 30 court appearance, citing the serious nature of undermining U.S. sovereignty.
- The secret police station, disguised as the America ChangLe Association, was established in February 2022 to conduct transnational repression schemes.
- This marks the first known prosecution related to China’s practice of operating undeclared police stations in foreign countries.
- Chen was caught deleting WeChat communications with Chinese officials, obstructing justice and preventing FBI investigation.
CCP’s Covert Operations on American Soil
The Chinese Communist Party’s brazen infiltration of American soil has been exposed with the case of Chen Jinping, who operated a secret police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Chen, who pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiring to act as an illegal agent for the CCP, was one of only three individuals trusted by Communist Party officials to run this clandestine operation. Established in February 2022 under the innocent-sounding America ChangLe Association, the outpost served as a front for the CCP’s Ministry of Public Security to conduct surveillance and harassment of Chinese dissidents living in the United States.
Chen’s arrest in April 2023, alongside co-defendant Lu Jianwang, marked a significant blow to China’s transnational repression efforts. Federal investigators discovered that the secret police station was directly involved in targeting victims of China’s notorious “Operation Fox Hunt,” including at least one individual in California. This program, despite being portrayed by the CCP as an anti-corruption initiative, has been widely recognized as a systematic campaign to silence critics of the communist regime living abroad, including legitimate political dissidents and refugees who have sought safety in America.
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
Legal Consequences and Government Response
U.S. prosecutors have recommended a three-year prison sentence for Chen, arguing that his actions directly undermined American sovereignty and the rule of law. The sentencing, scheduled for May 30 in Brooklyn Federal Court before District Judge Nina Morrison, will be a landmark case as the first known prosecution related to China’s global network of undeclared police stations. Federal authorities have emphasized that Chen’s position as one of only three individuals entrusted with operating the overseas police station demonstrates the significance of his role in advancing the CCP’s objectives on American soil.
“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 documents.
Further damaging Chen’s case is evidence that he attempted to obstruct justice by deleting WeChat communications with Chinese officials when federal authorities began their investigation. This deliberate action prevented the FBI from recovering potentially crucial messages that could have revealed the full extent of the CCP’s operations on American soil. Prosecutors argue this obstruction is particularly serious as it undermines law enforcement’s ability to investigate foreign interference and erodes public confidence in America’s legal institutions.
Defense Strategy and Broader Implications
Chen’s defense attorney, Susan Kellman, has taken a markedly different position, arguing that her client is deserving of the Court’s mercy and should receive only supervised release and community service. Kellman has submitted letters from family and friends attesting to Chen’s character and expressing remorse for his actions. However, prosecutors maintain that these personal testimonials cannot outweigh the gravity of Chen’s consistent participation in unlawful activities that directly served the interests of a hostile foreign power.
“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 emphasized in their sentencing recommendations.
This case highlights the growing threat of CCP influence operations within the United States and raises serious questions about national security vulnerabilities. The establishment of unauthorized foreign police stations on American soil represents a flagrant violation of sovereignty and a direct challenge to America’s ability to protect residents from foreign intimidation. The judge’s decision will not only determine Chen’s personal fate but will also send a message about America’s resolve in confronting China’s increasingly aggressive transnational repression tactics that threaten the freedom and security of individuals living in the United States.
