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Linda Sun, an aide to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, has been charged 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 (“PRC”) and the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”) and with her husband Chris Hu, also charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and misuse of means of identification. Both Sun and Hu have been arrested and released on $1.5M and $500,000 bonds, respectively.

Sun served as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive chamber. The indictment alleges that she used her role and influence among government officials and private-sector executives to covertly further the interests of the PRC and the CCP. Sun’s husband allegedly facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain, including luxury vehicles and multiple million-dollar properties in New York.

Sun is alleged to have acted at the request of PRC officials and CCP representatives while engaging in numerous political activities, including blocking representatives of the Taiwanese government from having access to high-level New York State officers; changing high-level New York State officers’ messaging regarding issues of importance to the PRC and CCP, obtaining official New York State proclamations for PRC government representatives without proper authorization; attempting to facilitate a trip to the PRC by a high-level New York State politician, and arranging meetings for visiting delegations from the PRC with New York State officials. Sun is also alleged to have provided unauthorized invitations from the offices of high-level New York State officers that were used to facilitate travel by PRC officials into the United States.

For her efforts, Sun is alleged to have received millions of dollars through her husband’s business, travel benefits, tickets to events, promotion of friends’ businesses, employment for family members, and Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a PRC official’s personal chef that were delivered to the residence of Sun’s parents. Sun and her husband allegedly laundered the proceeds to purchase a $4.1M home in Manhasset, a $2.1M condo in Honolulu, and a 2024 Ferrari, among other things.

Sun neither registered as a foreign agent nor disclosed any benefits she is said to have received from representatives of the PRC or CCP, as required by Federal and New York State law. The Department of Justice’s investigation is ongoing.

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