A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Lu Jianwang, 64, on Wednesday of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government. The New York man was accused of helping to operate what prosecutors described as a "secret police station" in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood.

Federal prosecutors said Lu failed to notify the US attorney general that he was acting on behalf of China when he helped establish the facility in 2022, as required under US law for foreign agents. The case was part of broader US concerns about Chinese government activities on American soil.

According to prosecutors, Lu also assisted Chinese authorities in locating a pro-democracy activist who was living in California. The conviction included charges related to destroying text messages from what authorities described as a Chinese government handler.

The facility in Chinatown was characterized by prosecutors as part of China's efforts to monitor and potentially intimidate Chinese nationals and others living in the United States. Such operations have drawn scrutiny from US law enforcement agencies concerned about foreign influence campaigns.

Lu's conviction comes as tensions between the US and China remain elevated over various issues including national security concerns. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to prosecute individuals accused of acting on behalf of foreign governments without proper registration with US authorities.