Two Chinese citizens living in the U.S. and a former NYPD sergeant have been convicted in a stalking trial connected to the People’s Republic of China, reports the Guardian.
Ex-sergeant Michael McMahon and Chinese citizens Zheng Congying and Zhu Yong were all convicted of harassing Chinese nationals to return to China.
A jury convicted Zhu of being a foreign agent and stalking, Zheng of stalking and McMahon of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.
Prosecutors accuse the men of engaging in a years-long campaign against a former Chinese official who lived in the U.S. for several years.
“The defendants engaged in a campaign of harassment and coercion on behalf of the PRC to force the victim’s repatriation to China from the United States, including by threatening family members,” US Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said in a statement.
The scheme by the PRC was known as Operation Fox Hunt.
According to CNN, prosecutors accused Yong of hiring McMahon who was working as a private investigator to gather information about the government official, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law.
Investigators say the men taped a threatening note on the family’s door. They say that note read “If you are willing to go back to the mainland and spend 10 years in prison, your wife and children will be all right. That’s the end of this matter!”
They also allegedly flew the official’s elderly father from China against his will in an effort to pressure his son to return to China.
Reuters identified the government official as Xu Jin, a resident of New Jersey.
Liu Pengyu of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC said repatriating fugitives is a “just cause” and asked the U.S. to cooperate.
“The U.S. turns a blind eye to basic facts and smears Chinese efforts to repatriate corrupt fugitives and recover illegal proceeds,” Liu said in a statement to Reuters.
Mcmahon says he did not realize he was working for the Chinese government.
Zhu’s lawyer says the defendants were used by the Chinese government and should not be held liable.
Zheng’s lawyer says she disagrees with the stalking verdict, but pleased the jury realized her client had no connection to the Chinese government.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All donations are tax deductible and can be made here.
Last day to get tickets for our fundraiser Up Close with Connie Chung, America’s first Asian American to anchor a nightly network newscast. The in-depth conversation with Connie will be held tonight, November 14 at 7:30 at Columbia University’s Milbank Chapel in the Teacher’s College. All proceeds benefit AsAmNews.