FBI agents have arrested a Chino Hills man, Yaoning "Mike" Sun, alleging his role as an illegal agent for the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Sun, aged 64, was taken into custody on federal charges that include acting as a foreign agent without prior notification to the Attorney General, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice's website. His apprehension occurred without disruption earlier this morning, and he is scheduled for an initial court appearance in the United States District Court in Los Angeles later today.
The criminal complaint against Sun, which was filed on Tuesday and made public today, details his alleged involvement with Chen Jun, a recently incarcerated individual for related activities. Sun is accused of leveraging his position as campaign manager for a Southern California politician, referred to as "Individual 1," who was elected to a city council in 2022. The complaint suggests that Sun was in communication with Chen about influencing local American politics, especially concerning Taiwan, an issue of considerable interest to the Chinese government.
According to the affidavit, "Individual 1" received a message from Chen following their election win, congratulating them and expressing a hope that they would "make Chinese people proud." United States Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the gravity of these allegations, stating, "We cannot permit hostile foreign powers to meddle in the governance of our country," further highlighting the commitment of his office and law enforcement partners to national security, as detailed in the justice department's press release.
The arrest of Yaoning "Mike" Sun is part of a broader FBI operation to identify and disrupt foreign intelligence operations. Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis, declared the case "highlights the breadth of the PRC’s relentless intelligence and malign influence activities targeting the United States," as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. The ongoing investigation seeks to uphold the integrity of U.S. officials and the electoral system. The charge of acting as an illegal agent has a maximum sentence of 10 years, while the conspiracy charge carries up to five years in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorneys David Ryan and Amanda Elbogen are prosecuting the case, supported by Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
