Former Arcadia Mayor Pleads Guilty to Acting as an Illegal Agent for China

Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, pleaded guilty to charges of acting as an illegal agent of China, according to court filings. Wang, 56, admitted to promoting Chinese government propaganda in the United States between 2020 and 2022. Her plea agreement was unsealed earlier this month and revealed that she carried out these activities before taking office.

Wang was elected to the City Council in November 2022 and later served as mayor. She resigned as mayor shortly after entering her plea. During the federal court hearing in Los Angeles, Wang acknowledged her guilt, responding mainly with ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers. Her plea agreement could disqualify her from holding public office in the future.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated, ‘Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy.’

Wang allegedly partnered with her former fiancé, Yaoning ‘Mike’ Sun, to manage a website named U.S. News Center, which targeted Chinese Americans. They posted articles directed by Chinese officials and shared analytics with them. Sun was also found guilty and received a four-year prison sentence.

Wang’s plea agreement highlighted specific incidents, such as an article about ‘China’s Stance on the Xinjiang Issue.’ This material, provided by a Chinese government official, contested claims of forced labor in Xinjiang. Wang quickly posted it on her website and notified the official.

Arcadia citizens reacted strongly to Wang’s involvement in the scandal. During a City Council meeting, former mayor Tom Beck and resident Steve Rhee expressed disappointment with the council’s handling of the situation. Beck suggested Wang should have been removed following the FBI raid on her home. The council explained they lacked the legal authority to dismiss her unless she was convicted.

City manager Dominic Lazzaretto noted that council members were unaware of the investigation details. The council has since focused on uniting the city and addressing potential racial tensions, with current mayor Paul Cheng emphasizing resilience against external negativity.