Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang has admitted to acting as an illegal agent for China. On Monday (May 11), Wang pleaded guilty in federal court to spreading pro-China propaganda through a fake news website, U.S. News Center, from 2020 to 2022. The site targeted the Chinese American community in southern California.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Wang and her former fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, received instructions from Chinese officials to publish articles denying human rights abuses in China, including forced labor and genocide allegations in Xinjiang. Wang then reported back to Chinese officials with data on the website’s reach.
Wang, who was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, resigned from her position as mayor on Monday. The Los Angeles Times reports that the plea agreement includes a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. During her court appearance, Wang was ordered to surrender her passports and refrain from communicating with Chinese government officials.
Sun, who was involved in the operation, was sentenced to four years in federal prison in 2025. Another associate, John Chen, received a 20-month sentence for similar charges in 2024. The FBI conducted the investigation, highlighting the ongoing concerns about foreign influence in U.S. politics.
Arcadia officials assured the public that no city resources were involved in Wang’s activities. The City Council will discuss her replacement at the next meeting.
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