A former aide to New York Governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, accused of acting as a double agent for the Chinese government, lived in a newly renovated $4 million Long Island home, images reveal.
Linda Sun, 41, and her husband, Christopher Hu, 40, face multiple charges—including visa fraud, money laundering, and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act—weeks after their Manhasset, NY home was raided by the FBI.
A statement from the United States Attorney’s Office accuses Sun of “acting on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party,” alleging that she and her husband reaped “millions of dollars in kickbacks” as part of their “illicit scheme.”
The statement further accuses Sun and her husband of using these monetary benefits to purchase luxury vehicles and million-dollar properties in New York. This includes a five-bedroom property on Long Island bought for $3.5 million in 2021. The property is currently estimated to be worth over $4 million.
The couple allegedly used their illicit gains to live a lavish lifestyle. A home design company carried out extensive renovations on their Long Island residence after they purchased it. According to CX Consulting’s website, these renovations included “architectural remodeling, structural modification, and MEP upgrade” to meet modern appearance and functional layout demands.
Images reveal significant changes to the home’s interior decor following renovation: walls painted pale grey, new flooring installed throughout, a transformed master bathroom, and a new laundry room added. The property also features new light fixtures.
In July 2024, an early-morning FBI raid was conducted at this property. Reports later indicated that Sun and Hu transferred ownership of the home to a trust in March 2024. They were arrested at this location on September 3.
Sun attended Barnard College and Columbia University before working in various government roles across New York for 15 years. She left state service in 2023 following allegations of misconduct.
Besides their Long Island home, records show that Sun and Hu purchased a $1.88 million condo in Honolulu in 2021 along with several luxury cars including a Ferrari.
Both pleaded not guilty during their court appearance shortly after arrest. Sun was released on a $1.5 million bond while Hu was released on an $800,000 bond.
In response to ABC News inquiries about the case against them, attorneys for Linda Sun stated: “We are disappointed by the filing of these charges which are inflammatory… Our client is eager to exercise her right to defend against these accusations.”
