In a serious case involving international pressure and illegal surveillance, a former NYPD sergeant has been sentenced for helping Chinese officials track and intimidate a U.S. resident. This case sheds light on China’s secretive repatriation campaign known as Operation Fox Hunt, which targets people living abroad who are wanted by Chinese authorities. Here’s a simplified breakdown of what happened.
What Was Operation Fox Hunt?
Operation Fox Hunt is part of China’s global plan to bring back individuals it claims are involved in corruption. But in doing so, Chinese officials have used illegal tactics, such as harassment and threats, even on U.S. soil. This particular case focused on efforts made between 2016 and 2019.
Who Is Michael McMahon and What Did He Do?
Michael McMahon, a 57-year-old retired NYPD officer from Mahwah, New Jersey, worked as a private investigator. He was hired by Zhu Yong, a man working on behalf of the Chinese government, to help locate a person referred to in court as John Doe #1. This man and his wife had been living in the U.S. and were trying to avoid being forcibly returned to China.
McMahon used his law enforcement background to find private information about John Doe #1. He even followed John Doe #1’s elderly father, who was flown in from China under pressure, to discover the family’s address. Then, he passed that information to Zhu and a Chinese police officer. In return, McMahon was paid over $19,000 and tried to hide the payments by using his son’s bank account.
How Was the Victim Harassed?
Once the address was known, other members of the group—like Congying Zheng—went directly to the victim’s house in New Jersey. They knocked on the doors, peeped through windows, and left a threatening note. The message said the man’s wife and children would be safe if he went back to China to serve a 10-year prison sentence.
McMahon was aware of what was going on. In fact, texts between him and a colleague showed he knew the goal was to get the victim back to China, and they even joked about getting a call from the police about a kidnapping.
What Were the Legal Consequences?
In June 2023, McMahon and his co-defendants Zhu and Zheng were found guilty by a jury after a three-week trial. In January 2025, Zhu was sentenced to 24 months in prison, and Zheng received 16 months. On April 17, 2025, McMahon was sentenced to 18 months and fined $11,000.
Three other individuals who were part of this campaign had earlier pleaded guilty and are still waiting for their sentencing.
How Did the U.S. Respond?
The FBI, along with the Department of Justice and the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, investigated this case. They emphasized the seriousness of foreign governments trying to control or scare people living in the U.S. The FBI has even launched a website for people to report such activities if they feel targeted by foreign agents.
This case shows how foreign governments, like China, sometimes break international laws to reach people they accuse of crimes. Even retired law enforcement officers like McMahon can get caught up in such activities, whether knowingly or not. The U.S. government is taking these cases seriously to protect its residents from being harassed or watched illegally.
