Former NYPD Cop On Trial Over China's 'Operation Fox Hunt' Plot

NEW YORK CITY — A former NYPD cop stands trial this week on accusations he helped a Chinese government plot designed to stalk and intimidate people in the U.S.

The trial against Michael McMahon, 53, and two Chinese citizens in a Brooklyn federal courtroom starting Wednesday is the first focused on "Operation Fox Hunt" — a worldwide effort by the People's Republic of China to force dissidents back to the country, prosecutors contend.

McMahon, who now works as a Bergen County private investigator, helped Chinese government agents by surveilling U.S. residents identified as John Doe and Jane Doe, prosecutors argue.

He also knew the Does were considered fugitives by Chinese authorities, and thus Operation Fox Hunt targets, court documents contend.

"Let me know if I need to go to China lol," he texted a man, who is accused of being a Chinese agent, at one point, according to court documents.

"They definitely grant u a nice trip if they can get [John Doe-1] back to China haha," the accused agent texted back, the documents state.

McMahon's actions helped Chinese officials bring John Doe's elderly father from China to New Jersey as a way to coerce the Does back, authorities contend.

When that plot failed, other conspirators in the Fox Hunt plot harassed the Does' daughter and left threatening notes to the family, prosecutors said.

McMahon has denied the accusations, the New York Times reported.

He, Yong Zhu of Queens, and Congying Zhen of Brooklyn, all face four counts of acting as unlawful agents of the People's Republic of China, interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit both of those offenses.

If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison.