Former High-Ranking New York State Government Employee Charged with Acting as an Undisclosed Agent of China

Linda Sun, 41, and her husband, Chris Hu, 40, both residents of Long Island, New York, were indicted on Aug. 26 on ten counts of charges related to money laundering conspiracy, visa fraud and bringing in aliens, according to a DOJ press release. They have also been accused of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, misusing identification, and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires people who engage in many activities on behalf of a foreign government to register with the government. The intent is to avert espionage and undue influence on U.S. politics by other countries.

“While appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York in the DOJ release. Prosecutors allege Sun and Hu received millions to influence U.S. politics and other acts committed on behalf of the Chinese government.

A New York State Official for Over a Decade

A naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, Sun started working for the New York State government in 2012 in positions like the Director of Asian American Affairs (2012), Superintendent of Intergovernmental Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer (2018) and Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Development for the Department of Labor (2022), as detailed in the 64-page indictment. These high-ranking executive branch positions were under former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and current Governor Kathy Hochul, both Democrats.

While working for the state government, Sun allegedly “acted as an undisclosed agent” of China by blocking Taiwanese government representatives from accessing the governor’s office and influencing Governors Cuomo and Hochul’s messaging to benefit China. She even attempted to arrange trips to China for state officials, including Kathy Hochul.

Facilitated Illegal Entry of Chinese Officials, Influenced Gubanatorial Statements

Sun also helped Chinese government officials come illegally into the U.S. by providing unauthorized invitation letters containing false statements about immigration documents, prosecutors say. She reportedly persuaded Governor Cuomo to thank individuals by name in the Chinese government for donating 1,000 ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic. He did that in a tweet on April 4, 2020.

Preventing Taiwan from gaining access to high-ranking officials was a high priority for the Chinese Consulate, and Sun began actively blocking Taiwanese representatives from meeting with Governor Cuomo in 2016, according to court documents. These reported blocks continued over the years, with Sun allegedly communicating with Chinese officials by email to keep them informed.

Linda Sun and Chris Hu Received Millions for Illegal Acts at the Behest of the Chinese Government, Prosecutors Claim

Sun and Hu received millions for their services to China, including travel, tickets for events, shows, concerts and a Nanjing-style salted duck prepared by a Chinese official’s personal chef that was sent to Sun’s parents, according to the indictment. Sun and Hu allegedly received money paid for their services through bank accounts in the name of a close relative, which Hu allegedly controlled and used to launder money using a copy of the relative’s driver’s license.

Sun and Hu used the money to purchase a $3.6 million home in Manhasset, New York, a $1.9 million condo in Honolulu, Hawaii and an array of luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari, say prosecutors.

Sun worked on behalf of China from 2016 to 2023, going to Chinese-sponsored events and protests, according to the indictment.

When Governor Hochul discovered suspicious behavior from Sun in March 2023, 15 months into her administration, she fired Sun, according to statements from her office. Hochul’s administration also reported Sun to the authorities and worked with the DOJ to investigate Sun, according to a press briefing on Sept. 4. The Governor has also called for the firing of the Chinese Consul General, Huang Ping, whom the Governor’s office said was also involved in the scandal.

Sun and Hu Maintain Innocence

Sun and Hu maintain their innocence, and their attorney, Seth Ducharme, says that they are confident in their case and calls the allegations “perplexing” and “ overly inflammatory” in his statements to the press, according to local news reports. Seth also says that his clients are exercising their rights to a speedy trial and “can’t wait” for their day in court.

As a condition of their bond, Sun and Hu are only allowed to travel to New York City, Long Island, New Hampshire and Maine, but they are restricted from New Jersey or Upstate New York, according to the local news report. They cannot have contact with the Chinese consulate in New York City. The next court hearing is Sept. 25.