In New York, recent developments have unfolded in a case involving Linda Sun, a former adviser to New York Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul. Sun is facing serious allegations relating to her actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside her spouse, Chris Hu, she has been indicted on charges related to an alleged scheme to illegally profit from the state’s efforts in acquiring face masks during a critical time.
Sun and Hu’s prosecution adds a new dimension to the already existing charges accusing Sun of operating as an unauthorized agent of the Chinese government. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. from Brooklyn criticized Sun’s conduct, claiming she exploited her official role to benefit her contacts, ensuring she and her husband capitalized financially during a period when protective equipment was scarce. According to the charges, the couple is believed to have illegally directed contracts to associates, enriching themselves in the process.
Linda Sun is scheduled to defend herself in court shortly, and her legal representative, Jarrod Schaeffer, has vocally challenged the new allegations, maintaining they lack substantial backing from facts and evidence, which he anticipates will emerge at trial. Hu’s counsel, Nicole Boeckmann, and Seth DuCharme, echoed a similar sentiment, suggesting the accusations are a ploy by prosecutors to frame a new legal angle as the trial looms.
Previously, Sun and Hu denied charges of misusing Sun’s government position to benefit Chinese political agendas, for which they allegedly received considerable financial incentives. The trial for these charges is slated for November. The latest accusations intertwine significant federal investigations into pandemic-related fraud and the unmasking of suspected covert agents operating for China and other nations.
This indictment claims that Sun and Hu garnered millions through kickbacks, leveraging Sun’s position in the Cuomo administration responsible for procuring essential PPE during the pandemic’s early days. During this period, New York was especially hard hit by COVID-19, racing against time to secure critical supplies as they faced a severe shortage.
Having immigrated to the U.S. from China, where much of the PPE was manufactured, Sun used her connections to aid New York’s procurement efforts amid China’s tightened PPE export controls due to its domestic pandemic response. Although Sun did channel purchases to Chinese government-approved vendors, the indictment alleges that she criminally fabricated documents to suggest two additional companies—one run by a relative and another belonging to a business partner of her husband—be considered vendors.
The indictment claims these undisclosed ties resulted in New York executing agreements with these companies in March 2020 and eventually disbursing over $44 million. Subsequently, around $2.3 million was purportedly routed back to Hu, though the indictment does not clarify if Hu’s friend transferred any funds.
Chris Hu’s career in state employ spanned approximately 15 years, starting during Cuomo’s administration and continuing into Hochul’s tenure. The latter’s office confirmed Sun’s dismissal upon discovering evidence of her misconduct in 2023. Meanwhile, Andrew Cuomo, celebrated for his COVID-19 briefings in 2020, has been involved in separate controversies regarding his handling of nursing home data and sexual harassment allegations, eventually ending his political comeback attempt with a recent primary loss.
The indictment extends to claim that Sun facilitated Chinese interests by strategically omitting human rights issues from a Lunar New Year video under Hochul’s administration. Allegedly, Hu benefited from Chinese governmental support for business endeavors, allowing the couple to accrue immense wealth, funding investments in luxurious real estate and vehicles.