NYPD Cop, A Long Island Resident, Acted As Chinese Spy: Feds

WILLISTON PARK, NY — An NYPD officer, U.S. Army reservist and Long Island resident was arrested Monday on allegations he acted as an agent for China and spied on ethnic Tibetans in New York City.

FBI agents arrested Baimadajie Angwang, 33, of Williston Park, Monday ahead of a hearing. A criminal complaint unsealed Monday in Brooklyn federal court said Angwang was charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China, as well as with wire fraud, making false statements and obstructing an official proceeding. He faces up to 55 years in prison if convicted.

In a 24-page complaint, authorities detail what they said were more than 100 contacts between Angwang and Chinese officials. Angwang, an NYPD officer in Queens assigned to the community affairs unit and a naturalized U.S. citizen, shared the activities of ethnic Tibetans with those officials, authorities said.

Since at least 2014, authorities said he operated under the direct control of Chinese officials at the consulate in New York City, reporting on the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area, identifying intelligence sources inside the Tibetan community and providing the Chinese government with access to top police officials through invitations to official events. One Chinese consular official whom he's accused of working for was with a division of the Chinese government's United Front Work Department, which is responsible for, among other things, neutralizing opponents of the Chinese government.

"For your work, is there anything else that I can do?" Angwang asked one Chinese official he referred to as "big brother," according to court documents.

Tibet is an autonomous region in China with an independence movement. Angwang is also of Tibetan descent, according to the complaint. He also offered to help make connections between consulate officials and the NYPD, as well as information on internal police operations, authorities said.

Communications between Angwang and Chinese officials — one of whom was identified as his "boss" or handler — detailed how he was recruited as an asset, documents showed.

"Let them know you have recruited one in the police department," Angwang told an official to tell his superiors in Beijing, court documents showed.

Federal authorities pressed for Angwang to be held without bail, saying he poses a "serious risk of flight" and noting high-dollar wire transfers in his name.

As part of his employment with the U.S. Army Reserve, Angwang maintained a secret, low-level security clearance.

Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said Angwang violated his sworn oath to serve New York City and defend the Constitution against enemies by reporting to Chinese government officials about the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area, as well as by developing intelligence sources within the Tibetan community in the United States.

“This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains vigilant in rooting out any attempts at foreign influence though criminal activity taken on behalf of a foreign power in whatever form they may take," DuCharme said.

John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, warned state and local officials they are "not immune" to the threat of Chinese spying.

"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," Demers said. "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."

William Sweeney, FBI assistant director-in-charge, called Angwang the "definition of an insider threat." Angwang operated on behalf of a foreign government, lied to gain his clearance, and used his position as an NYPD officer to help the Chinese government's "subversive and illegal attempts to recruit intelligence sources,"Sweeney said.

“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," he said.

Patch New York City staffer Matt Troutman contributed reporting.