A Southern California mayor has agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government.
Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, was charged in April with acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
According to federal prosecutors, Wang allegedly carried out activities on behalf of Chinese officials without notifying the US government, as required under American law.
Charges Carry Possible 10-Year Prison Sentence
Wang was elected in November 2022 to the city’s five-member council. Federal officials said she has now agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Assistant US attorney Bill Essayli said individuals who secretly act on behalf of foreign governments undermine democratic institutions and national security.
Alleged Promotion of Pro-China Propaganda
According to court documents, Wang and associate Yaoning “Mike” Sun worked between late 2020 and 2022 on behalf of officials connected to the People’s Republic of China.
The pair allegedly promoted pro-Beijing messaging in the United States through a news platform called US News Center, which targeted the Chinese-American community.
Federal investigators said Chinese government officials directed Wang and Sun to publish favorable content about China.
Xinjiang Article Shared After Request From Chinese Official
One incident highlighted in the plea agreement involved a June 2021 article concerning China’s treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.
A Chinese government official allegedly sent Wang a link to a letter published in the Los Angeles Times by the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles. The article denied allegations of genocide, forced labor, and abuse of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
Investigators said Wang reposted the article to her news website within minutes.
Associate Already Serving Prison Sentence
Sun previously pleaded guilty to the same charge in October 2025 and is currently serving a four-year prison sentence.
City Says No Public Resources Were Involved
Dominic Lazzaretto, the city manager of Arcadia, said the investigation involved Wang’s individual conduct and not city operations.
He stated that the alleged actions stopped before Wang officially took office in December 2022. An internal review reportedly found no involvement of city finances, staff, or municipal decision-making.
The Arcadia City Council is expected to appoint a new mayor and mayor pro tempore from among the remaining council members.
Lawyers Say Wang Accepts Responsibility
Wang’s attorneys, Jason Liang and Brian Sun, said she accepts responsibility for what they described as “past personal mistakes.”
They added that Wang remains devoted to the Arcadia community and expressed regret over her actions.
