New York cop arrested for spying for China

If convicted, Angwang could face 55 years in prison

NYPD-representational-Reuters Representational image | Reuters

A New York police officer is being accused of using his position in the department's community affairs unit to give Chinese officials access to NYPD officials and offer insider information about its operations, according to a criminal complaint. 

Officer Baimadajie Angwang, 33, who has risen through ranks in the force over the years was arrested on Monday and has been charged with acting as a foreign agent without notifying American authorities, wire fraud and making false statements by Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged him with, He has also been charged with obstruction of an official proceeding -- prosecutors claim he lied on a national security clearance form that granted him a "secret" security clearance.

If convicted, Angwang, who could face 55 years in prison, has also been accused of reporting on Tibetans in the city and being in contact with two officials at the Chinese consulate.

He allegedly provided the consulate with access to senior NYPD officials by inviting them to official events. As per court documents, Angwang received "multiple substantial wire transfers from the PRC [People's Republic of China]”, a BBC report reads. Angwang who joined the department in 2016, has been suspended. Angwang  is a former Marine who served in Afghanistan in 2013, and has served as a US Army Reservist since 2014.  

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