A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was charged Tuesday with secretly performing as an agent for the Chinese language authorities in change for thousands and thousands of {dollars} in compensation and presents, together with connoisseur duck meals.
Linda Solar, 41, and her husband Chris Hu, 40, pleaded not responsible to prison fees earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Peggy Kuo in Brooklyn after being arrested Tuesday morning.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn mentioned that whereas working in state authorities, Solar prevented Taiwanese authorities representatives from assembly with officers and tried to rearrange a go to by a high-level New York state official to China.
In change, Chinese language authorities officers allegedly organized thousands and thousands of {dollars} in transactions for Hu, who had enterprise actions in China.
Prosecutors mentioned Solar and Hu used the cash to purchase a 2024 Ferrari Roma sports activities automobile, in addition to properties on Lengthy Island, New York, and in Honolulu value about $6 million, prosecutors mentioned.
Different presents included Nanjing-style salted geese ready by a Chinese language authorities official’s private chef and delivered to Solar’s dad and mom’ residence, prosecutors mentioned.
Hochul was not charged with any crime. Her workplace fired Solar in March 2023 after uncovering proof of misconduct, promptly reported Solar’s actions to authorities and has assisted regulation enforcement all through the method, a spokesperson for the governor mentioned.
Kuo ordered Solar launched on $1.5 million bail and Hu on $500,000 bail. Their subsequent court docket look is scheduled for Sept. 25.
“Our shopper is understandably upset by these fees,” Solar’s legal professional, Jarrod Schaeffer, advised reporters after the listening to.
A spokesman for the Chinese language embassy in Washington didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Solar turned Hochul’s deputy chief of workers in September 2021 after serving in a number of state businesses.
Lately, the U.S. Justice Division has cracked down on folks accused of working for adversaries like China and Russia with out registering with the U.S. authorities as required by regulation.
Final month, Chinese language scholar Wang Shujun was convicted in a Brooklyn federal court docket of accumulating data on New York-based pro-democracy activists in China and sharing his findings with Beijing.
Solar faces eight fees, together with failing to register underneath the International Brokers Registration Act and conspiracy to launder cash. Hu faces three fees, together with conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud.
