An NYPD officer and Army Reservist from Williston
Park is facing federal charges for allegedly acting as a spy for the Chinese
government.
Prosecutors
say Baimadajie Angwang, a Tibetan native of the People's Republic of China,
repeatedly reported to two Chinese consulate officials for six years.
Angwang
is accused of using his position in the NYPD to provide consulate officials
with access to senior NYPD officials.
According
to court documents, the 33-year-old also offered to provide Chinese officials
with non-public information about the inner workings of the NYPD.
Angwang's neighbors are shocked by the allegations.
“I'm an American and I want to trust that the police
and people protecting us are doing for our best interest and not certainly
doing things against us, against our country,” says neighbor Laurie Asher.
NYPD
Commissioner Dermot Shea issued a statement saying "As alleged in this
federal complaint, Baimadajie Angwang violated every oath he took in this
country. One to the United States, another to the U.S. Army, and a third to
this Police Department."
Angwang has been suspended from the NYPD without
pay. He faces 55 years in federal prison if convicted.