A man who affixed a threatening note to the door of a former Chinese official in New Jersey received a 16-month prison sentence on Wednesday. He was found guilty of involvement in what U.S. authorities term a pressure campaign orchestrated by Beijing against expatriates.
Zheng Congying was among three individuals convicted in a case that underscores allegations from the United States regarding China’s harassment and intimidation of its critics abroad. The Chinese government has refuted these claims, asserting that its “Operation Fox Hunt” is a legitimate initiative intended to repatriate fugitives to face legal consequences.
A jury in a federal court in Brooklyn determined that Zheng, along with his co-defendants Michael McMahon and Zhu Yong, played various roles in an operation aimed at locating Xu Jin, a former official from Wuhan. They attempted to coerce him into returning to China, where he is facing bribery accusations that he firmly rejects.
Zheng approached Xu’s residence in New Jersey, circled the outside to observe, and left a note that, when translated, threatened: “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!”
During the trial, Zheng’s attorney, Paul Goldberger, indicated that his client later expressed remorse for his actions and sought to retrieve the note. Prosecutors argued that Zheng returned to the property simply to determine if the note had been received by Xu.
The defendants chose not to testify in their defense, but their legal representatives claimed they were under the impression they were assisting private entities or individuals rather than the Chinese government.
Zheng, a citizen of China, faced convictions for stalking and conspiracy to stalk but was found not guilty on other charges. Requests for comments regarding his sentencing were directed to his attorney.
Last week, co-defendant Zhu received a two-year prison sentence, while McMahon, a retired police sergeant in the U.S., is scheduled for sentencing later this winter.
Additionally, three other individuals have pleaded guilty in connection with this case, while five more remain charged. It is believed that these five are currently located in China and have not yet appeared in a U.S. court.
