Former Cuomo and Hochul aide Linda Sun and her husband allegedly pocketed $8 million from PPE contracts while serving Chinese Communist Party interests during a pandemic that left Americans locked down and desperate for protective equipment.
Key Takeaways
- Linda Sun, a former aide to Governors Hochul and Cuomo, and her husband, Chris Hu, allegedly profited up to $8 million through fraudulent PPE contracts with Chinese vendors during critical COVID shortages.
- The couple faces multiple charges, including honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, tax evasion, and Sun was previously charged with acting as a foreign agent for Chinese interests.
- Sun allegedly altered documents to favor companies run by her husband and second cousin without disclosing these relationships, even tracking illicit gains on a spreadsheet titled “Me”.
- FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the scheme as corruption that endangered American lives during a health crisis when PPE was desperately needed
- The indictment highlights the FBI’s commitment to prosecuting public officials who compromise national interests for personal gain.
FBI Director Condemns Exploitation of Pandemic Crisis
FBI Director Kash Patel issued a strong rebuke following the indictment of Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, on bribery charges related to a COVID-era kickback scheme. The couple allegedly exploited New York’s desperate need for personal protective equipment during the pandemic’s height, steering contracts to Chinese vendors with whom they had undisclosed personal connections. The scheme reportedly generated up to $8 million in profits while Americans struggled to access critical protective supplies during government-mandated lockdowns.
“While Americans were locked down and desperate for PPE, Linda Sun and Chris Hu cashed in – allegedly lining their pockets while serving CCP interests. This is corruption that endangered lives. The FBI will not tolerate public officials who sell out their country,” said Kash Patel, FBI Director.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino amplified Patel’s warning with his comment: “Read the last sentence again. Bookmark it.” The strong language from top FBI leadership underscores the severity with which federal authorities view the alleged breach of public trust during a national emergency. Sun previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Governor Andrew Cuomo and later as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Kathy Hochul before being terminated in 2023.
Elaborate Scheme To Profit From Pandemic Shortages
According to federal prosecutors, Sun and Hu orchestrated an elaborate fraud that capitalized on New York State’s urgent need for protective equipment during the pandemic. Sun allegedly facilitated contracts between the state and two Chinese-based vendors—one operated by her husband and another by her second cousin—without disclosing these personal connections to her employers. Investigators claim Sun went so far as to alter documents to favor these companies, falsely claiming endorsements from Chinese officials.
“When masks, gloves, and other protective supplies were hard to find, Sun abused her position of trust to steer contracts to her associates so that she and her husband could share in the profits,” said Joseph Nocella, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
The brazenness of the alleged scheme is highlighted by prosecutors’ discovery of a spreadsheet titled “Me”, where the couple reportedly tracked their illicit gains. Sun and Hu now face an array of serious charges including honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and tax evasion. These new charges compound Sun’s existing legal troubles, as she was previously charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Chinese interests—allegations that paint a disturbing picture of divided loyalties.
Public Safety Compromised For Personal Gain
Federal authorities emphasize that the alleged fraud went beyond financial corruption—it potentially compromised public safety during a health crisis when reliable protective equipment was critical. The indictment contends that Sun and Hu’s scheme exploited the state’s emergency need for resources when Americans were most vulnerable, prioritizing profit over public welfare. Both were arrested in September, with arraignment for the new charges scheduled for Monday.
“This alleged scheme not only created an unearned and undisclosed benefit for the defendants and their relatives, but it also exploited the state’s critical need for resources in a health crisis,” said Christopher Raia, FBI Assistant Director in Charge.
Sun’s attorney, Jarrod L. Schaeffer, has disputed the allegations, claiming they continue “the government’s trend of making and publicizing feverish accusations unmoored from the facts and evidence.” However, the FBI’s forceful condemnation signals that federal investigators have assembled substantial evidence supporting their case. President Trump’s administration has consistently highlighted the dangers of foreign influence in government, with this case exemplifying the precise concerns about compromised officials that have been central to his national security platform.
