Lu Jianwang, a U.S. citizen charged with conspiring to act as an agent of the Chinese government by helping set up a Chinese 'secret police station' arrives to Brooklyn Federal court during his trial in New York City, U.S., May 12, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
(Brooklyn, New York) – A man accused of helping run a secret Chinese police station in the heart of New York City has been convicted in federal court, marking one of the most high-profile cases tied to alleged Chinese government influence operations inside the United States.
Lu Jianwang, also known as “Harry Lu,” was found guilty in Brooklyn federal court on charges including acting as an illegal foreign agent and obstruction of justice after prosecutors said he operated an undeclared outpost linked to China’s Ministry of Public Security in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
Federal authorities alleged the operation was far more than a community assistance center. Prosecutors argued the office functioned as part of a broader effort by the Chinese government to monitor, intimidate, and track critics of the Chinese Communist Party living in America.
According to the Justice Department, the station was presented publicly as a place where Chinese nationals could receive help with administrative matters like renewing driver’s licenses. But investigators claimed the real purpose was tied to “transnational repression” — China’s alleged campaign to silence dissidents and political opponents abroad.
During the trial, prosecutors introduced messages, photographs, and testimony they said showed Lu communicating directly with Chinese government officials. Jurors were also shown a banner identifying the Manhattan office as a “Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station.”
Authorities said Lu allegedly worked with Chinese security officials to gather information on pro-democracy activists and other individuals critical of Beijing.
The case drew national attention because of its implications for U.S. national security and foreign influence operations operating on American soil.
Lu’s defense team argued he was simply helping members of the local Chinese community and denied claims that he knowingly acted as an agent of the Chinese government. His attorney described the prosecution as government overreach.
Still, after deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts on multiple counts.
Federal prosecutors called the conviction a major step in protecting American sovereignty and defending the rights of individuals living in the U.S. from foreign intimidation campaigns.
The investigation was part of a broader federal crackdown on alleged covert Chinese operations inside the United States, including efforts authorities say targeted dissidents, activists, and critics of the Communist regime.
Lu now faces potential prison time following the conviction.
