Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, has agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the plea agreement, which stems from allegations that Wang promoted pro-China propaganda in the U.S. between 2020 and 2022. The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Wang, who was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, admitted to working with Chinese government officials to spread pro-Beijing messaging. According to the DOJ, she and her then-fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, operated a website called U.S. News Center, which published articles provided by Chinese officials. Sun is currently serving a four-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2025 to acting as an illegal foreign agent.
The DOJ alleges that in June 2021, Wang received a prewritten article from a Chinese official denying allegations of genocide and forced labor in Xinjiang. The article, titled “China’s Stance on the Xinjiang Issue,” was published on the U.S. News Center website shortly after Wang received it. The DOJ stated that Wang acted “at the direction and control” of Chinese officials, coordinating with others to spread propaganda without notifying the U.S. Attorney General as required by law.
Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg emphasized that individuals in public office should act solely for the people they represent. The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division noted that Wang’s actions were part of a broader effort by foreign governments to influence U.S. democracy. Arcadia city officials stated that the case is tied to Wang’s individual conduct and does not impact city operations.
Wang is expected to make her initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles and plead guilty in the coming weeks.