A former high-ranking aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested Tuesday on a federal criminal complaint accusing her of acting as a secret agent for China and the Chinese Communist Party and laundering millions of dollars for China.

Linda Sun, who served as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff for a year, among other positions in state government, is accused of violating or conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, human smuggling and money laundering.

Sun’s husband, businessman of 40 years Chris Hu, was also arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of identification means.

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

Prosecutors say the couple laundered the proceeds from their alleged scheme to buy a $4.1 million home in Manhasset, Long Island, a $2.1 million condo in Honolulu and luxury cars, including a 2024 Ferrari.

An indictment alleges that while serving in the governor’s office and several state agencies, Sun, 41, also acted as an undisclosed agent for the People’s Republic of China, where she was born.

The indictment states that Sun conducted numerous political activities in the interests of the People’s Republic of China and the Communist Party of China “at the request of government officials of the People’s Republic of China and the representative of the Communist Party of China.” These included, according to the indictment, “blocking the access of representatives of the Taiwanese government to the office of the Governor of New York,” altering the messages of Hochul and other politicians on issues important to China and the Communist Party of China, obtaining official proclamations from the Governor for representatives of the People’s Republic of China, and attempting to facilitate a trip by Hochul to China.

She also allegedly arranged “meetings for delegations from the government of the People’s Republic of China with government officials from the State of New York.”

Prosecutors said that in return for these and other actions, Sun received “significant economic and other benefits” from the Chinese government and Communist Party.

This includes “facilitating transactions worth millions for Hu’s business activities based in the PRC,” the press release said.

Sun also received tickets to events “promoting the business of a close family friend;
a job for Sun’s cousin in the People’s Republic of China; and Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by the personal chef of a Chinese government official and delivered to Sun’s parents’ home,” the press release said.

Hochul’s press secretary Avi Small said in a statement to WNBC News 4 in New York City: “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, promptly reporting her actions to law enforcement, and assisting them throughout the process,” Small said.

According to the indictment, Sun held various positions in New York State government from 2012 to 2023, including Hochul’s deputy chief of staff for a year beginning in September 2021.