A California man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of acting as an unregistered agent for the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and offering bribes to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent. John Chen, 71, from Chino, California was involved in a plot targeting U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that is banned in the PRC. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Chen's sentencing took place today.
During the period from January 2023 to May 2023, along with his co-defendant, Lin Feng, 44, Chen worked to further the PRC government's campaign to oppress the Falun Gong inside the U.S. Acting upon instructions and funded by a PRC government official, he attempted to bribe what turned out to be an undercover officer with the goal of "toppl[ing] . . . the Falun Gong." In a recorded call, which contributed to the evidence against him, this aim was made explicitly clear by Chen. Feng, who was sentenced to a time-served sentence of 16 months on September 26, by the same judge, participated in offering bribes meant to manipulate the IRS's Whistleblower Program and undermine tax-exempt entities associated with Falun Gong, notably the Shen Yun Performing Arts Center.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, in a statement, underscored the resolve of U.S. authorities: "Today’s sentence is a reminder that the U.S. justice system will hold accountable those who attempt to engage in malicious transnational repression on American soil." Williams further declared that such actions aimed at repressing free speech and harassing critics of the PRC within the United States will not be tolerated. The case has emphasized the threat posed by foreign powers seeking to extend their oppressive reach beyond their borders.
In advancement of the PRC-directed scheme, Chen met with the undercover officer in Newburgh, New York, on May 14, 2023, handing over a $1,000 cash bribe. Promising 60% of any whistleblower award from the IRS, he also offered a total of $50,000 for opening an audit on the Shen Yun Performing Arts Center. Submitted documentation included a complaint which was aimed at stripping the tax-exempt status of the center. Feng carried out a subsequent bribe, paying the supposed IRS agent a $4,000 cash bribe at John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 18, 2023, as uncovered by court documents.
Beyond his prison term, Chen is subjected to three years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $50,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York and Los Angeles Field Offices, Counterintelligence Division, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration were credited for their investigative work by Damian Williams. The Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence, and Export Control Section also provided necessary assistance in handling the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Qais Ghafary, Michael D. Lockard, and Kathryn Wheelock, with assistance from Trial Attorney Christina Clark of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, led the legal proceedings.
