A New York City Police Department officer has been charged by federal officials with spying for China.
Baimadajie Angwang, 33, originally a China citizen from Tibet, is said to have admitted to spying on the Tibetan and Chinese communities in New York City for years because he wanted to bring "glory to China." He first sold his services to China in 2014. He faces up to 55 years in prison if convicted. His brother is a soldier in the People's Liberation Army.
Angwang worked at the community affairs unit of the 111th Precinct on 215th Street in Bayside. The precinct includes Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, Hollis Hills and Fresh Meadows.
Angwang was arrested earlier this week at his Long Island home and was charged in a Brooklyn court, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
"This is the definition of an insider threat," said William Sweeney, assistant director in charge of the FBI's field office in New York.
"As alleged, Angwang operated on behalf of a foreign government, lied to gain his clearance and used his position as a NYPD police officer to aid the Chinese government's subversive and illegal attempts to recruit intelligence sources."
Court documents accuse Angwang of reporting to China consulate officials about the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York City area. He was accused of identifying potential intelligence sources within the Tibetan community. He has also been charged with wire fraud and making false statements.
Prosecutors said Angwang was in regular contact with a member of China's consulate in city who served as his "handler." The FBI said it had audio recordings of Anwang's conversations with his handlers along with other evidence.
"As alleged in this federal complaint, Baimadajie Angwang violated every oath he took in this country," Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said.
"One to the U.S., another to the U.S. Army and a third to this police department. From the earliest stages of this investigation, the NYPD's intelligence and internal affairs bureaus worked closely with the FBI's counterintelligence division to make sure this individual would be brought to justice."
Angwang served in the U.S. Marines and was a reservist with the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant at Fort Dix in New Jersey. He held a high level security clearance.
