A Chinese citizen, Xiaolei Wu, has been sentenced to nine months in prison and three years of supervised release for cyberstalking and making threatening communications towards an individual advocating for democracy in China. The US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts announced the verdict on Wednesday.
Wu, a 26-year-old former student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, was convicted in January for sending threatening messages to a person who had posted a pro-democracy flier on or near the college campus. The incident led to Wu's suspension from the school in 2022.
According to charging documents, Wu used the Chinese messaging app WeChat to threaten the individual, stating, “Post more, I will chop your bastard hands off.” He also allegedly reported the person to the Chinese government and incited others to harass the individual by sharing their personal information online.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized the severity of Wu's actions, stating that he exploited the fear of reprisal from the Chinese government to intimidate and silence the victim. Levy condemned Wu's behavior, highlighting that such threats aimed at suppressing free speech rights will not be tolerated by the Department of Justice.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding individuals' rights to express their opinions without fear of intimidation or violence. The sentencing of Xiaolei Wu reflects the commitment to protecting freedom of speech and ensuring accountability for those who seek to undermine it.
