the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, a former New York City police sergeant has been sentenced to 1.5 years in federal prison for operating as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government during a covert surveillance operation in New Jersey.
Michael McMahon, convicted in 2023, was found guilty by a federal jury in Brooklyn for interstate stalking and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government without proper notification to the U.S. Attorney General. He was accused of participating in China’s global repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt”, targeting individuals Beijing claims are corrupt fugitives.
Operation Fox Hunt and McMahon’s Role
Prosecutors said McMahon was hired as a private investigator to surveil a New Jersey resident who was allegedly being targeted by Chinese law enforcement. The operation is part of a global campaign by China to force individuals accused of corruption to return home—often through intimidation and harassment tactics.
Despite his conviction, McMahon maintained his innocence, claiming he believed he was working for a legitimate company attempting to recover embezzled funds, not the People’s Republic of China.
“I was unwittingly used,” McMahon stated during sentencing, expressing regret for his involvement.
Sentencing and Legal Response
U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen delivered the sentence, emphasizing that prosecutorial priorities had no bearing on the outcome.
“The law is the law,” said Judge Chen during the sentencing hearing.
The case is part of the Biden administration’s crackdown on transnational repression, targeting efforts by authoritarian regimes such as China and Iran to intimidate dissidents and critics on U.S. soil.
John Durham, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, commented:
“McMahon, a former law enforcement officer who swore an oath to protect the public, went rogue and dishonorably engaged in a scheme at the direction of the People’s Republic of China.”
Political Support and Co-Defendants
Despite his conviction, McMahon had support from two Republican U.S. Representatives—Michael Lawler (NY) and Pete Sessions (TX)—who wrote letters urging leniency based on his service record and family commitment.
Two co-defendants in the case:
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Yong Zhu was sentenced to 2 years in prison.
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Congying Zheng received 1 year and 4 months.
National Security and Foreign Influence
This high-profile case shines a spotlight on the increasing scrutiny of foreign influence and the U.S. government’s efforts to defend civil liberties against international overreach.
Legal analysts expect additional cases involving transnational repression to be brought forward, especially as U.S. intelligence agencies continue to monitor foreign surveillance networks operating under the guise of diplomacy or business.
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