In a dramatic turn of events, a U.S. law enforcement officer responsible for overseeing deportations has found himself on the other side of the law. Henry Yau, a 41-year-old from New York, was arrested on Nov. 21 for allegedly leaking sensitive government records and stealing identities.
Yau’s story is straight out of a crime thriller. Federal investigators claim he shared confidential details about at least 28 people, pulling information from key government agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security. He’s accused of passing this classified info to at least 12 individuals, including a former director in New York’s mayoral office.
The accusations don’t stop there. Prosecutors say Yau even tipped off someone under FBI investigation and orchestrated arrests to help his friends. It’s a betrayal that stunned many, especially given Yau’s role as an ICE officer since 2015. He climbed the ranks to a supervisory position in 2021, but that career came to an abrupt end when he resigned earlier this month.
On the day of his arrest, Yau appeared before a judge in Manhattan. He now faces seven serious charges, including identity theft and conspiracy to misuse government records. If convicted, he could spend up to 21 years in prison.
One of the key players in this tangled web is Tommy Lin, a former New York City official. Lin, arrested earlier this year, is accused of orchestrating a $10 million bank fraud scheme. Allegedly, Lin and his associates used Chinese nationals to open bank accounts and carried out fake transactions to transfer funds. When they feared one of their collaborators might blow the whistle, they reportedly turned to Yau for help.
According to court documents, Lin and his crew conspired to have the potential whistleblower deported. Yau allegedly prepared a detailed report on the individual, including their criminal history and address, which Lin used to arrange an arrest. For his part, Lin reportedly pocketed $20,000 for making it all happen.
But this wasn’t a one-off deal. The complaint paints a picture of an ongoing partnership between Yau and Lin, with Yau allegedly digging up nonpublic information about individuals and even checking if certain people under investigation could face trouble at U.S. borders. In return, Yau received gifts like a watch, liquor, and fancy dinners—although he insists these were tokens of friendship, not bribes.
Much of their communication, according to investigators, happened on WeChat, a popular messaging app. When questioned about it, Yau claimed he hadn’t used the app in years. Prosecutors, however, had evidence that told a different story.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams didn’t mince words when announcing Yau’s arrest. “Public service is a privilege, not a right,” he said, emphasizing that his office would continue holding people accountable for abusing their positions of power.
This case is a stark reminder of the risks when those entrusted with authority cross ethical and legal lines. As the investigation unfolds, Yau’s fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of betraying public trust.
