Earlier this week, a former NYPD sergeant and licensed private investigator was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for helping agents of the Chinese government target and harass U.S.-based Chinese nationals and legal residents.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the individual was originally arrested in 2020, convicted in 2023, and has now been sentenced for:
“…acting as an illegal agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit the same, for his participation in a scheme to coerce repatriation of a U.S. resident to the PRC as part of its international repatriation effort known as ‘Operation Fox Hunt.’”
As we noted in our post following his 2023 conviction:
Since the retired sergeant’s arrest in November 2020, IP Probe Blog has published several posts on how Chinese security services exploit private investigators in the U.S. to carry out covert operations.
All licensed PIs should take seriously the following warning from the FBI: FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Dennehy stated:‘
“We hope this verdict [conviction and prison sentence] serves as a message to other operatives in the United States working right now at the behest of the People’s Republic of China in its effort to silence those who speak out against it. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are watching, and we are taking action to stop the stalking, threatening, and repressing of dissidents.’
‘A specific takeaway: private investigators will face consequences if they wittingly ignore the warning signs that they may be part of a larger plot to illegally harass and coerce people by a foreign power. If you have concerns, reach out to us.’”
Disclaimer
IPProbe.Global is a service to the professional investigation and intelligence community. While every effort has been made to check the information in this blog, we provide no guarantees or warranties, express or implied, regarding the content provided in IPProbe.Global. We disclaim all liability and responsibility for the qualification or accuracy of representations made by the contributors or for any disputes that may arise. It is the responsibility of the readers to independently investigate and verify the credentials of such persons and the accuracy and validity of the information provided by them. This blog is for general information only and is not intended to provide legal or other professional advice.
0 comments on “Former NYPD Sergeant & Private Investigator Sentenced to 18 Months for Assisting Chinese State Security”