DOWNTOWN – THE TRIAL OF a man accused of operating a secret “police station” in lower Manhattan on behalf of the Chinese government was set to begin on Wednesday morning in Brooklyn federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York.
Lu Jianwang, 64, aka Harry Lu, an American citizen, is charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, acting as an agent of a foreign government and obstruction of justice, in the case. A co-defendant pleaded guilty to acting as an agent for China in December 2024.
Lu is accused of helping to establish an overseas office of China’s Ministry of Public Security in a building in Chinatown, at 107 East Broadway, in 2022, in addition to other acts conducted on behalf of the MPS. The police station was reportedly used to harass and intimidate dissidents against China’s government living overseas, without the knowledge of the U.S. government. China’s government has denied these allegations, saying the office, along with others located in other countries and cities, was used to provide basic governmental services. Lu is also accused of deleting messages between himself and the MPS.
The charges carry sentences of up to 20 years.
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