Former New York City police sergeant Michael McMahon was sentenced to 1-1/2 years in prison for his involvement in acting as an illegal Chinese agent. He was charged with being a private investigator hired to surveil a New Jersey resident accused by China of corruption as part of a global campaign called “Operation Fox Hunt.” McMahon was found guilty of interstate stalking and acting as an agent of China without notifying the U.S. attorney general, but not guilty of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, McMahon was convicted amid President Joe Biden’s administration’s crackdown on transnational repression by authoritarian adversaries like China.
The sentencing of McMahon comes as Biden’s administration focuses on cracking down on transnational repression, while former President Donald Trump’s administration signaled a decrease in criminal enforcement of U.S. foreign influence laws. Attorney General Pam Bondi has stated that criminal cases will only be brought in scenarios resembling traditional espionage, with a focus on civil enforcement in other situations. McMahon received support from Republican U.S. Representatives Michael Lawler of New York and Pete Sessions of Texas, who wrote a letter urging the judge to spare him prison time, emphasizing his service as a police officer and dedication to his family. Two of McMahon’s co-defendants, Yong Zhu and Congying Zheng, received sentences ranging from one to two years in prison.
In the case, McMahon was found to have participated in “Operation Fox Hunt,” a campaign by Chinese law enforcement to repatriate alleged criminals living abroad. He was hired as a private investigator to surveil a New Jersey resident accused of corruption by China. McMahon was convicted of interstate stalking and acting as an agent of China without notifying the U.S. attorney general, but was not found guilty of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. The conviction took place amid Biden’s administration’s efforts to crack down on transnational repression by authoritarian countries.
President Biden’s administration has focused on transnational repression, such as the intimidation and harassment of dissidents on U.S. soil by authoritarian countries like China and Iran. In contrast, former President Trump’s administration indicated a reduction in criminal enforcement of U.S. foreign influence laws. Attorney General Bondi announced that prosecutors would prioritize criminal cases that resemble traditional espionage, while focusing on civil enforcement in other situations. McMahon’s sentencing is part of a broader effort to address transnational repression by authoritarian states under Biden’s administration.
Michael McMahon’s involvement in acting as an illegal Chinese agent led to his conviction on charges of interstate stalking and acting as an agent of China without notifying the U.S. attorney general. The case revealed his participation in a global campaign called “Operation Fox Hunt,” where he was hired as a private investigator to surveil a New Jersey resident accused by China of corruption. Despite pleading not guilty to the charges, McMahon was convicted, reflecting the Biden administration’s efforts to address transnational repression by authoritarian regimes like China.
Two of Michael McMahon’s co-defendants, Yong Zhu and Congying Zheng, were sentenced to two years and 1-1/3 years in prison, respectively. McMahon’s sentencing is part of a larger push by President Biden’s administration to crack down on transnational repression by authoritarian adversaries like China. In contrast, former President Trump’s administration signaled a decrease in criminal enforcement of U.S. foreign influence laws. McMahon has received support from two Republican U.S. Representatives who emphasized his service as a police officer and dedication to his family in urging the judge to spare him prison time. Attorney General Bondi has outlined a focus on criminal cases resembling traditional espionage, with a shift towards civil enforcement in other scenarios under the Biden administration.
