the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, a former NYPD sergeant turned private investigator from Mahwah has been sentenced to prison for helping representatives of the Chinese government stalk and intimidate a family living in the United States, according to federal prosecutors.
Michael McMahon, 57, was convicted of interstate stalking and conspiracy charges after a U.S. trial. McMahon, along with two co-conspirators, took part in a targeted international harassment campaign between 2016 and 2019, officials said.
Operation Fox Hunt and Sky Net: International Pressure Campaigns
Prosecutors revealed that McMahon was hired by Zhu Yong, 68, of East Elmhurst, NY, to track down John Doe #1, a U.S. resident who, along with his wife, had attempted to keep their address hidden from public records.
The Chinese government allegedly wanted John and Jane Doe to return to China to face corruption charges under programs known as Operation Fox Hunt and Operation Sky Net. Critics argue these initiatives are less about financial crimes and more about silencing whistleblowers and dissidents.
McMahon reportedly accessed sensitive information about the family and conducted surveillance outside the home of one of John Doe #1’s relatives in New Jersey. He provided detailed reports back to Zhu and even communicated directly with a People’s Republic of China police officer.
Disturbing Acts of Coercion
In one alarming incident, prosecutors said Chinese officials threatened to jail John Doe #1’s sister, still residing in China, to pressure his ailing, 82-year-old father to travel to New Jersey. Despite his fragile condition following a brain hemorrhage, the elderly man made the trip, accompanied by a doctor.
McMahon tracked the father’s movements in New Jersey, which eventually led him to the residence of John Doe #1.
Then, on September 4, 2018, co-conspirator Congying Zheng, 29, of Brooklyn, and another accomplice visited the family’s New Jersey home. They allegedly pounded on the door, tried to break in, peered through windows, and left a chilling note promising that John Doe #1’s “wife and children will be okay” if he surrendered to face a 10-year prison sentence in China.
Texts, Harassment, and Surveillance
Federal investigators also uncovered that McMahon acknowledged knowing that the operation’s goal was to forcibly return John Doe #1 to China for prosecution.
In text messages, McMahon joked with a surveillance partner about the illegal nature of their activities. When the partner quipped about a possible abduction call from the NJ State Police, McMahon responded with “LOL.”
McMahon even suggested additional harassment, such as parking outside John Doe #1’s home to intimidate him further. He also researched information about John Doe’s daughter, including her college and major.
In total, McMahon was paid over $19,000, which he deposited into his son’s bank account, prosecutors said.
Sentencing and Federal Response
Last Wednesday, McMahon was sentenced in federal court in Brooklyn to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay an $11,000 fine for acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government and for his role in interstate stalking and conspiracy.
The case highlights the growing concern over transnational repression, where foreign governments intimidate and harass individuals within the United States.
The FBI has established a dedicated website for victims of such international harassment. If you believe you have been targeted, officials encourage you to visit the FBI’s platform to report your experience.
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