BROOKLYN, NY – In a dramatic turn of events, a federal indictment was unsealed today in Brooklyn, charging Linda Sun, a former Deputy Chief of Staff under New York Governor Kathy Hochul, with a series of serious crimes, including violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and conspiracy to launder money. Sun is accused of acting covertly on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with her husband, Chris Hu, also facing charges of money laundering, bank fraud conspiracy, and misuse of identification.
Linda Sun and Chris Hu were apprehended this morning and are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo later today for their arraignment.
According to the indictment, while Linda Sun appeared to serve the people of New York in a high-profile government role, she was allegedly advancing the interests of the CCP behind the scenes. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace emphasized the gravity of the charges: “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. The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars.”
Federal authorities, including the FBI and the IRS, were involved in the investigation. FBI Acting Assistant Director Christie M. Curtis underscored the national security implications: “Sun wielded her position of influence among executives to covertly promote PRC and CCP agendas, directly threatening our country’s national security.”
The indictment paints a picture of a deeply embedded scheme where Sun allegedly acted as an undisclosed agent for the PRC and CCP while holding high-ranking positions within New York’s state government.
She served as New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Deputy Chief of Staff.
The charges detail how Sun manipulated her position to block Taiwanese government representatives from meeting with New York officials, altered messaging from state officers to align with CCP interests, and facilitated unauthorized meetings between PRC delegations and New York state officials.
Sun’s activities were allegedly not limited to political influence. She is accused of using her position to facilitate illegal immigration by providing false invitation letters to PRC officials, enabling them to enter the United States unlawfully. Additionally, the indictment reveals that Sun received substantial benefits from her actions, including luxury travel, event tickets, and even Nanjing-style salted ducks delivered to her parents by a PRC official’s personal chef.
In what prosecutors describe as an elaborate scheme to hide their gains, Sun and Hu allegedly laundered millions of dollars through various means, including purchasing luxury properties in New York and Hawaii and high-end vehicles, such as a 2024 Ferrari.
These transactions were reportedly masked through bank accounts opened under a relative’s name but controlled exclusively by Hu.
The charges against Sun and Hu are severe, and while they maintain their innocence until proven guilty, the case underscores growing concerns about foreign influence within U.S. political institutions. The Eastern District of New York’s National Security & Cybercrime Section is spearheading the prosecution, with multiple federal agencies collaborating to bring Sun and Hu to justice.
As the legal proceedings begin, this case raises serious questions about the extent of foreign interference within the United States and the vulnerabilities within state governments that foreign powers can exploit.
The indictment also puts a spotlight on the need for stringent oversight and transparency in government positions that can be manipulated to serve foreign interests.
