Lu Jianwang, a 64-year-old Chinese-American and U.S. citizen, was found guilty on May 13, 2026, by a federal jury in New York of acting as an unauthorized agent of China and obstruction of justice related to running a covert Chinese police station in Manhattan's Chinatown [1, 2, 3]. He was found not guilty on a conspiracy charge to act as a foreign agent [1].
The unregistered station operated by Lu was located on the fourth floor of the America Changle Association offices in Manhattan's Chinatown [1, 2, 3]. Established in early 2022, the station reportedly assisted Chinese nationals with mundane tasks like document renewal but also engaged in monitoring and harassment of overseas Chinese and targeted political dissidents [1, 2, 3].
Lu was arrested in April 2023 and tried in federal court in Brooklyn [2]. Prosecutors accused him of helping Chinese authorities identify a pro-democracy activist living in California, though no harm to the activist was shown [2, 3]. The FBI described Lu's operation as targeting dissidents to further the Chinese government's political agenda [3]. FBI Assistant Director James Barnacle said, "May today’s verdict send a message to other foreign agents – the FBI maintains its unwavering resolve to reveal and disrupt the clandestine operations of adversarial nations" [2].
Lu faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years if sentenced accordingly [2, 3]. His lawyer John Carman said, "We’re obviously disappointed by the verdict. Harry’s motives were pure," adding, "This isn’t spy time. This isn’t international espionage. This is license renewal" for Chinese Americans during the pandemic [1, 2, 3].
Lu’s co-defendant, Chen Jinping, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to act as a Chinese agent but has not been sentenced [3].
Opening statements in the trial took place on May 6, 2026, with the jury delivering its verdict on May 13 [2]. Sentencing dates for Lu Jianwang have not been announced.
