According to the Associated Press, Baymadaji Angwang, a 33-year-old US citizen of Tibetan origin, "worked as an agent of the People's Republic of China" since 2018 and allegedly made efforts to suppress the movement. 

The agency also clarifies that the man worked at the New York City Police Department in Queens.

In late August, a researcher from China was detained at the American University of Virginia, accused of trying to steal trade secrets.