A former top aide of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was arrested by federal agents Tuesday morning and faces accusations of acting as an undisclosed agent of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.

“Linda Sun, who had been deputy chief of staff to Hochul, is charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy,” CNBC reports.

Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, was also arrested.

Hu faces accusations of money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of means of identification.

According to ABC 7 NY, Sun held numerous positions in New York state government before becoming Hochul’s deputy chief of staff.

“The 64-page indictment accuses Linda Sun, 41, who was arrested that morning along with her husband, Christopher Hu, 40, of blocking representatives from Taiwan’s governor from visiting the New York governor’s office. Sun and Hu also laundered kickbacks she received from the People’s Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party to buy a $4.1 million Long Island home that FBI agents later raided, the indictment contends,” Chief Nerd wrote, citing the New York Post.

Per CNBC:

The couple, who were arrested by FBI agents at their home on Long Island, are scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

Prosecutors say the couple laundered the proceeds of their alleged scheme to buy a $4.1 million home in Manhasset, Long Island, a $2.1 million condominium in Honolulu, and luxury automobiles that include at 2024 Ferrari.

An indictment unsealed Tuesday alleges that the 41-year-old Sun, while working in the governor’s office under Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and in multiple state agencies, also acted as an undisclosed agent for the People’s Republic of China, where she was born.

“As alleged, 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 CCP,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace, according to ABC 7 NY.

“The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars,” Peace added.

ABC 7 NY reports:

Prosecutors said Sun, at the request of Chinese officials, blocked representatives of the Taiwanese government from having access to high-level officials in New York state, altered state governmental messaging on issues related to the Chinese government and attempted to facilitate a trip to China for a high-level politician in New York, among other things.

 

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