A former NYPD sergeant, Michael McMahon, has been convicted by a Brooklyn federal jury for his involvement in a scheme known as "Operation Fox Hunt," where he acted as a Chinese agent
attempting to coerce individuals living abroad to return to China. McMahon, who later became a private investigator, was found guilty on three out of the four charges he faced, including acting as an agent of a foreign government, stalking, and conspiracy to engage in interstate stalking. He faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The case specifically revolved around McMahon's stalking and coercion of Xu Jin, a former Chinese official residing in New Jersey, with the aim of persuading him to return to China to face bribery and embezzlement charges. McMahon, along with two other individuals, engaged in various tactics such as sending strangers to Xu's family members' homes to relay threatening messages and conducting surveillance.
During the trial, McMahon's defense argued that he was unaware he was working as an agent for Beijing and claimed that he had no knowledge of the larger "Operation Fox Hunt" campaign. However, the prosecution maintained that McMahon was aware of his role and willingly participated.
The conviction of McMahon highlights the serious nature of his actions, particularly as a former NYPD sergeant engaging in surveillance, harassment, and stalking on behalf of a foreign power. The prosecution emphasized the significance of holding individuals accountable for their involvement in coercive measures aimed at pressuring foreign residents to return to China.
McMahon's co-defendants, Congying Zheng and Yong Zhu, were also involved in the scheme. Zhu was convicted on all counts and faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years, while Zheng was convicted of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, with a possible sentence of up to 10 years.
The verdict sends a strong message about the consequences of engaging in such activities on behalf of a hostile foreign state and underscores the importance of safeguarding individuals from undue coercion and intimidation. Photo by Krokodyl, Wikimedia commons.