A former Department of Homeland Security agent and personal investigator from Irvine is dealing with felony expenses as a part of a widening federal probe of an alleged worldwide effort to focus on Chinese dissidents residing in the United States.
Derrick Taylor — together with present DHS agent Craig Miller — are accused of mendacity to federal investigators and destroying proof tied to what federal prosecutors describe as a “transnational repression scheme” in opposition to these essential of the Chinese authorities, in accordance with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Three different males — Fan “Frank” Liu, Matthew Ziburis and Qiang “Jason” Sun — have been beforehand charged with finishing up the alleged effort to silence critics of the Chinese authorities, together with these advocating for democracy in the People’s Republic of China.
Federal prosecutors say the alleged scheme was “orchestrated on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China.”
Among different allegations, federal prosecutors say Liu, Ziburis and Sun plotted to destroy paintings created by a Chinese nationwide residing in Los Angeles that was essential of the Chinese authorities. The males are accused of additionally planting surveillance tools in the artist’s office and automotive in order to spy on him.
Prosecutors allege that Taylor and Miller accessed “sensitive and confidential information” on U.S.-based Chinese dissidents from a restricted federal law-enforcement database. That information was then utilized by Liu and Sun to spy on and goal the dissidents, prosecutors allege.
According to a sworn assertion by an FBI agent filed with the courtroom, the information allegedly collected by Taylor included that from passport photographs, flight data and immigration data tied to a number of Chinese dissidents.
Prosecutors say the federal expenses in opposition to Taylor and Miller are tied to allegations that they obstructed justice, together with by destroying proof, after approached by FBI brokers. According to the sworn assertion by the agent, Miller at one level admitted to deleting messages from his cellphone.
Neither man could possibly be reached for remark. Their felony case was filed in the Eastern District of New York.
“We will defend the rights of people in the United States to engage in free speech and political expression, including views the PRC government wants to silence,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matt Olsen stated in an announcement.
“As charged, these individuals aided agents of a foreign government in seeking to suppress dissenting voices who have taken refuge here,” he stated. “The defendants include two sworn law enforcement officers who (chose) to forsake their oaths and violate the law.”
The web site for Taylor’s investigation enterprise describes him as a “decorated former federal agent and accomplished author.”
It says Taylor spent 25 years with the Department of Homeland Security, working assignments such because the Fugitive Task Force unit in Los Angeles and the joint Terrorist Task Force Unit in Washington, D.C.
Prosecutors described Miller as a 15-year worker of the Department of Homeland Security at present assigned as a deportation officer in Minnesota. According to courtroom papers, he was beforehand stationed in Los Angeles, the place he was supervised by Taylor.