Penultimate Wednesday, in federal court in Brooklyn, defendant Quanzhong An, 58, of Roslyn Heights, New York, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for acting as an illegal agent of Chinese government, for his participation in a scheme to cause the coerced repatriation of a U.S. resident to China as part of the Chinese government’s international extralegal repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment, An was ordered to pay a financial penalty of approximately $5 million, including approximately $1.3 million in restitution to the U.S. Resident and his family, and a $50,000 fine.
An pleaded guilty in May 2024 and was charged in October 2022.
As set forth in the government’s sentencing memoranda and other court filings, An was a leading member of an international campaign to threaten, harass, and intimidate the U.S. resident and his family members, with the goal of coercing the U.S. resident to repatriate to China.
An participated in the multi-year scheme to elevate his status within the Chinese government to further his own economic interests.
An’s involvement in the repatriation scheme began in 2017 when he attempted to locate the U.S. resident by visiting the home of the U.S. resident’s adult son without notice or invitation.
The following year, An sent his daughter and two Chinese government officials to the home of the U.S. resident’s son.
An subsequently met with the U.S. resident’s son on numerous occasions, during which time An served as a mouthpiece for China by conveying threatening messages on behalf of the Chinese government.
For example, An said he did not want to pronounce “ruthless words” from the Chinese government but stated that Chinese officials would “keep pestering (the U.S. resident’s son), (and) make (his) daily life uncomfortable” if the son was unable to convince his father to repatriate to China.
An’s harassment continued unabated from 2017 until his arrest in 2022. An’s conduct intimidated individuals living in the United States and their loved ones in China – just as it was intended to do – for the benefit of the Chinese government.
At sentencing, Judge Matsumoto considered that An had participated in additional criminal conduct.
Specifically, he perpetrated a bank fraud and money laundering scheme to defraud U.S. financial institutions so that he could enjoy continued access to U.S.-based bank accounts.
As part of this scheme, he moved millions of dollars from China into the United States, deliberately deceiving U.S. financial institutions regarding the source and purpose of the funds.
The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. If you believe that you are or have been a victim of transnational repression, please visit the FBI’s website.
