A Chinese-American The scientist was convicted in a Brooklyn court on Tuesday after his work on behalf of Beijing as an illegal agent was discovered.
Shujun Wang, an activist who founded a pro-democracy group in New Yorkused his position to spy on dissidents and share information with the Chinese government for over a decade.
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Wang lived a double life on behalf of the Ministry of State Security in Beijing, according to prosecutors. By presenting himself as a pro-democracy and anti-Chinese government activist, he was able to earn the trust of those who truly hold these views and then pass on their information.
Chinese-American academic Wang Shujun speaks to the press after being sentenced in Brooklyn federal court on charges of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government, in New York, the United States, on August 6, 2024. (REUTERS/Luc Cohen)
The verdict was handed down by a federal jury on Tuesday, which found Wang guilty of being an illegal agent.
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“The prosecution could have been the plot of a spy novel, but the evidence is shockingly real that the defendant was a secret agent of the Chinese government,” US Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement to The Associated Press.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) honor guard conducts a flag-raising ceremony at Bayi Square to commemorate the 97th anniversary of China’s Army Day on August 1, 2024 in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. (Ma Yue/VCG via Getty Images)
Shujun Wang Pleaded not guilty. Wang’s legal team argued that his broadcasts may not have been under the control of Chinese officials.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.