New York man sentenced for leading scheme to repatriate dissident to China
- Quanzhong An helped lead a scheme in the U.S. to pressure a Chinese dissident to return to China.
- The operation was part of China’s larger initiative, Operation Fox Hunt, aimed at targeting fugitives abroad.
- Ultimately, An was sentenced to 20 months in prison and fined $5 million for his actions.
In a significant development occurring in the United States, Quanzhong An, a 58-year-old businessman from Long Island, was sentenced to 20 months in prison by Judge Kiyo Matsumoto for his role in a multiyear scheme aimed at coercing a Chinese dissident to return to China. This plot, which began in 2017 and continued until An's arrest in 2022, involved various tactics such as intimidation, harassment, and threats directed towards the aspirant repatriate and his family. The U.S. Department of Justice described the operation as an effort by the Chinese government to silence dissenters and reclaim individuals labeled as fugitives. Under the direction of handlers based in China, An attempted to apply pressure on the dissident by involving family members and even conducting surveillance on their residences. This scheme was part of a broader initiative known as Operation Fox Hunt, which the Chinese government asserts is a legitimate effort to apprehend fugitives who have evaded justice abroad. However, human rights advocates in the U.S. and around the world see it as a form of transnational repression targeting individuals who disagree with the Chinese Communist Party. The Justice Department's statement regarding An's sentencing emphasizes that he acted as an agent of the Chinese state, furthering his own interests while undermining the safety and security of those living in the U.S. For his actions, An was not only sentenced to prison but also imposed a financial penalty of $5 million, which included $1.3 million in restitution to his victim and a fine of $50,000. Alongside An, his daughter Guangyang An and other accomplices were also indicted for their roles in this conspiracy, which has raised concerns about the influence and reach of foreign governments into domestic affairs in the U.S. Their actions underline the increasing threats posed by foreign states to undermining individual freedoms, especially concerning expatriates who have fled persecution.