NEW YORK — A man found guilty in a significant trial emphasizing the United States’ accusations that China intimidates its critics abroad was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday. This case involved a disturbing campaign aimed at coercing a former Chinese official to return to China.
Zhu Yong, a 68-year-old retiree from China, faces imminent deportation following his prison sentence. In court, he expressed remorse, suggesting that he had not fully considered the repercussions of his actions. Through a Mandarin interpreter, Zhu pleaded for forgiveness from the nation, the victims, and all American citizens, asking the judge for the opportunity to “renew” himself and witness his grandchild’s upbringing in the United States.
Zhu was one of three individuals convicted of multiple charges in a trial that shed light on issues of cross-border surveillance and stalking practices in New Jersey. The former official, Xu Jin, who had held a position in a Chinese city, faced both subtle and blatant coercion to return to China, where he and his wife have been accused of bribery—a claim they deny, asserting that their targeting stems from the internal politics of China’s Communist Party.
Throughout the campaign, Xu’s adult daughter received derogatory messages about him via her Facebook. His elderly father was unexpectedly flown from China to the U.S. to persuade him to return home. Eventually, a threatening note was affixed to the door of his New Jersey residence, stating, “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!”
Zhu, also known as Jason Zhu and Yong Zhu, was convicted of charges that included stalking and acting as an illegal foreign agent—crimes that could have led to a 25-year prison sentence, although prosecutors recommended around six years behind bars.
U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen described Zhu’s actions as “a threat to this country’s national security,” questioning Zhu’s motivations when he agreed to assist a Chinese government official in locating Xu. Xu had fled China in 2010 with his wife. Zhu maintained that he was simply asked to help find Xu and was not aware of any potential harm being involved. He claimed he was led to believe Xu owed money.
The judge inquired, “At some point, Mr. Zhu, did you believe that your actions were going to result in some harm?” To which Zhu replied, “After I was arrested, I realized that could be the case.”
Prosecutors argue that this case epitomizes transnational repression, highlighting how governments use intimidation tactics against dissidents outside their borders. Numerous U.S. prosecutions have been linked to China’s “Operation Fox Hunt,” a long-running initiative that the Beijing regime describes as an effort to capture fugitives abroad, including those accused of corruption.
Given the absence of an extradition treaty between the U.S. and China, Beijing cannot compel individuals to return for prosecution, and the Chinese government has denied any involvement in threatening individuals for their return.
In the case, Zhu and his co-defendants, Michael McMahon and Zheng Congying, did not contest involvement in the actions taken. Zhu aided in hiring and briefing McMahon, a retired police sergeant turned investigator, to locate Xu. During the trial, defense attorneys claimed that their clients believed they were acting on behalf of private individuals or a business entity rather than on behalf of the Chinese government, asserting they thought they were merely pursuing a debt collection or some type of business matter.
Zhu’s lawyer stated in court that his client eventually recognized the involvement of Chinese officials but did not fully comprehend the extent to which Xu might be pressured to return. The judge concluded that while Zhu acted with ignorance, he also did so with an understanding of the seriousness of the situation.
“He really failed to appreciate the scope and the gravity of his conduct and the real harm he has caused to these victims and to this country,” Judge Chen remarked.
Zhu is expected to report for his prison sentence on April 15, while McMahon and Zheng are set to receive their sentences sometime later in the winter. Additionally, eight others have been charged as part of the conspiracy, with three having already pleaded guilty and five believed to be in China.
