California Realtor Arrested for Alleged Ties to Chinese Government

A realtor from Irvine, California, was arrested on Sunday. She is accused of operating as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government.

Wanying “Heather” Zhang, 34, was taken into custody by FBI agents at Los Angeles International Airport. She was attempting to fly to China at the time of her arrest. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli on X.

Authorities claim Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 to conduct surveillance. Her alleged target was a close relative of a Taiwanese government official. She reportedly sent photos, videos, and license plate details to Chinese authorities.

“She coordinated the trip with an associate, using tradecraft to evade detection,” Essayli stated. He added that Zhang failed to inform the Attorney General of her actions on behalf of a foreign government, which is a federal offense.

This is an unfolding case, and further updates are expected.