Former Arcadia Mayor Pleads Guilty to Serving as a Chinese Agent

Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, made a statement in federal court today amidst serious allegations claiming she acted as a spy for China.

After reaching a plea agreement with the Department of Justice, Wang confessed to her role as an illegal agent for the People’s Republic of China. Reports indicate that this plea followed her guilty plea last Friday.

From 2020 to 2022, she reportedly worked alongside Chinese officials to disseminate propaganda via misleading news websites based in the U.S. Interestingly, she was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, a city located in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley.

Documents from the court reveal that Wang, 58, collaborated with her then-fiancée, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, to operate a website called “US News Center,” which masqueraded as a credible news outlet for Chinese Americans. However, their true mission involved executing directives from the Chinese government through this platform.

The plea agreement detailed that Wang and Sun were tasked with amplifying China’s propaganda, while also reporting back to their superiors with metrics showing article viewership.

Sun was arrested in 2024 and subsequently charged with acting as a covert agent for China; he received a four-year prison sentence.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department dropped federal charges against Wang, recognizing her as an unregistered agent, and released the plea agreement she had signed.

In the wake of these serious accusations, she stepped down from the Arcadia City Council and resigned from her role as mayor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri commented on the situation, noting that individuals covertly following foreign orders jeopardize democratic processes. He emphasized that this plea agreement highlights ongoing efforts to protect national interests from foreign corruption.

Roman Rosavsky, the FBI’s deputy director for counterintelligence and espionage, warned that anyone attempting to sway U.S. democracy on behalf of foreign powers will face consequences.

Recently, the Arcadia City Council appointed Councilman Paul P. Chen to fill the mayoral vacancy until the next election set for November 2026.

Wang’s sentencing is slated for October 6, with potential penalties reaching up to 10 years in federal prison. A statement from the city’s website reiterated the gravity of the allegations, asserting that any efforts by foreign governments to influence local officials are profoundly troubling. They stressed that the investigation solely focuses on individual actions, clarifying that Wang ceased such activities after taking office in December 2022.