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Top aide for NY Govs Hochul, Cuomo arrested, allegedly worked for Chinese Communist Party

September 3, 2024 | | Print Article

A 64-page indictment put a new spin on the Empire State as a former aide to New York Govs. Hochul and Cuomo was arrested for allegedly working for China as an undisclosed agent.

Weeks after 41-year-old Linda Sun’s Long Island home was raided by the FBI, the former deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was arrested alongside her husband, Christopher Hu, 40, Tuesday morning.

According to the indictment and statements released by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Sun was charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy while acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Republic of China.

“Sun is alleged to be an undisclosed agent of the PRC and CCP, using Chinese money and her influence within the state of New York to benefit the Chinese government. Sun and her husband then laundered millions of dollars for the foreign country and used the monetary benefits of this scheme to buy luxury vehicles and million dollars [sic] properties here in New York,” Special Agent in Charge of IRS CI New York Thomas M. Fattorusso said as Hu was charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of means of identification.

“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,” added Fattorusso.

While allegedly laundering funds that helped in acquiring a $4.1 million property on Long Island, a $2.1 million condo in Hawaii, and numerous luxury cars that included a 2024 Ferrari, Sun, who had initially worked as an aide for disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was said to have blocked representatives from the government of Taiwan from accessing state officials while conversely arranging meetings for Chinese government officials to meet with representatives of the New York government in addition to altering messages from the state to satisfy the preferences of China.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said, “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. Our Office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government,” he added.

Charges against Sun and her husband came months after Chinese entertainment magnate Hui Qin was sentenced to time served before agreeing to leave the United States for an illegal political donation scheme that directed funds to campaigns in New York and Rhode Island.

Peace had said in May, “Qin interfered with our election system and tried to gain advantage through his straw donations,” which amounted to roughly $11,600 in funds.

In a statement provided to CNN, Hochul’s Press Secretary Avi Small said of Sun, “This individual was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement, and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process.”

Kevin Haggerty
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