Linda Sun, former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul and a resident of Manhasset, was arrested by federal authorities Tuesday morning for allegedly being an agent of the Chinese government.
According to a Justice Department release, Sun was charged in a federal court in Brooklyn with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy.
Sun is alleged to have acted on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, was also charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and misuse of means of identification.
The arrest took place a month and a half after the FBI raided their $4.1 million home in Manhasset. The raid of their home was held before dawn on the morning of July 23 at Linda Sun’s Stone Hill gated community home on Saxony Court. The reason for the raid, first reported by The New York Times, is unknown.
Sun is a former deputy chief of staff for Hochul but holds a 15-year-long career working in government.
Sun’s LinkedIn profile outlines a long career in public service, beginning in 2009 as chief of staff for Rep. Grace Meng’s state Assembly office.
Sun has held many other positions, including director of Asian American affairs, Queens regional representative, and deputy chief diversity officer under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Her LinkedIn profile also states that she held the title of chief of staff under Hochul from September 2021 until November 2022 and worked for the state Department of Labor, ending in March 2023.
Citing an unknown source, Politico reported that Sun had been fired from her Department of Labor job in March of 2023 due to evidence of misconduct. This evidence was reported to law enforcement, according to multiple publications.
“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,” Breon Peace, United States Attorney, said on Justice.gov. “The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars. Our Office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government.”
Sun also repeatedly violated internal rules and protocols within the New York State government, according to Justice.gov, by providing improper benefits to PRC and the CCP representatives.
Sun provided unauthorized invitation letters from the office of high-level New York State officers that were used to facilitate travel by PRC government officials into the United States for meetings with New York State government officials.
Sun’s unauthorized invitation letters for the PRC government delegation constituted false statements made in connection with immigration documents and induced the foreign citizens into unlawfully entering the United States.
Sun actively concealed that she took actions at the order, request, or direction of PRC government and the CCP representatives. In return, Sun allegedly received substantial economic and other benefits from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP.
Sun and Hu allegedly laundered the monetary proceeds of this scheme to purchase, among other items, real estate property in Manhasset, New York currently valued at $4.1 million, a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii currently valued at $2.1 million, and various luxury automobiles, including a 2024 Ferrari.
Sun never disclosed any benefits she received from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP to the New York State government, as she was required to do as a New York State government employee.
Hu also allegedly laundered unlawful proceeds through bank accounts opened in the name of a close relative, but that were for Hu’s exclusive use. To open these accounts, Hu unlawfully used an image of the relative’s driver’s license.
“It is with the unwavering determination of federal law enforcement to root out foreign agents and their schemes that Sun and Hu will now face justice for their criminal acts,” Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of IRS CI New York, said.
The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Robert Pollack are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Trial Attorney Scott Claffee from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Litigation Analyst Mary Clare McMahon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Mantell of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
