NYPD Police Officer Charged with Acting as an Illegal Agent of Red China
In a report from the Department of Justice submitted to the National Association of Chiefs of Police, federal prosecutors charged Baimadajie Angwang — an officer with New York City Police Department as well as a member of the United States Army Reserve — with serving the People’s Republic China as an illegal agent as well as committing wire fraud, making false statements and obstructing an official proceeding.
The 33-year old Angwang was arrested in Williston Park, New York, and his initial appearance was before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo at the U.S. Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York.
“State and local officials should be aware that they are not immune to the threat of Chinese espionage,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.
“According to the allegations, the Chinese government recruited and directed a U.S. citizen and member of our nation’s largest law enforcement department to further its intelligence gathering and repression of Chinese abroad. Our police departments provide for our public safety and are often the first line of defense against the national security threats our country faces. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to protect our nation’s great police departments,” stated Demers.
According to a statement from Acting United States Attorney Seth D. DuCharme, “The defendant is charged with violating his sworn oath as a New York City police officer to protect and serve the citizens of New York by instead reporting to PRC government officials about the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area and developing intelligence sources within the Tibetan community in the United States.”
“Today’s arrest shows that no one – especially one sworn to uphold the law – is immune from prosecution for illegal acts on behalf of foreign governments,” he added.
This case serves as yet another reminder that China represents the biggest counterintelligence threat to the United States and that the FBI and our partners will be aggressive in investigating and stopping such activities within our nation, say members of the FBI counter-terrorism task force..
“This is the definition of an insider threat – as alleged, Angwang operated on behalf of a foreign government; lied to gain his clearance, and used his position as an NYPD police officer to aid the Chinese government’s subversive and illegal attempts to recruit intelligence sources,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office William F. Sweeney.
“The FBI is committed to stopping hostile foreign governments from infiltrating our institutions, and we will we not tolerate the behavior of those who willingly violate their oath to the United States, and covertly work against their fellow citizens. We want to thank the NYPD for its extraordinary partnership on this investigation,” he said.
“As alleged in this federal complaint, Baimadajie Angwang violated every oath he took in this country. One to the United States, another to the U.S. Army, and a third to this Police Department,” stated New York City Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea.
According to the complaint, Angwang, a native of Tibet who lived in Red China, became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He is assigned to NYPD’s community affairs unit where, among other things, he serves as a liaison to the community served by the 111th Precinct, in NYC’s Queens County.
For about four years, Angwang acted at the direction and control of Chinese espionage officials posted in the Chinese Consulate in New York City.
Prosecutors said that Angwang spied on the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area, spotted and assessed potential intelligence sources within the Tibetan community in New York and elsewhere, and provided PRC officials with access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official events.
The investigation revealed that one of the PRC Consular officials, at whose direction Angwang acted, worked for the “China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture,” a division of the PRC’s United Front Work Department. This Department is responsible for, among other things, neutralizing potential opponents of the PRC and co-opting ethnic Chinese individuals living outside the PRC.
According to court documents, Angwang was explicit about his motivations, telling his PRC official handler that he wanted to get rise in rank within the NYPD so that he could assist the PRC and bring “glory to China.”
In addition, Angwang told his handler that the handler’s superiors in Beijing “should be happy . . . because you have stretched your reach into the police.”
In addition to acting as an illegal agent of the PRC, Angwang is also charged with committing wire fraud, making false statements and obstructing an official proceeding.
Equally disturbing, as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, Angwang maintained a “SECRET”-level security clearance. According to court documents, in 2019, Angwang completed and electronically submitted an SF-86C form for a background investigation.
On the form, Angwang lied by denying that he had contacts with a foreign government or its consulate and by denying that he had close and continuing contacts with foreign nationals, including his family members who live in the PRC, some of whom were affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army.
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