From the HERE City National Desk
A California real estate agent accused of spying on a son of Taiwan’s president for the Chinese government will stay in federal custody while her case proceeds, a judge ruled Wednesday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve Kim sided with prosecutors who argued that Wanying Zhang, 34, of Irvine, poses a flight risk. The FBI arrested her Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport as she tried to board a flight to Shanghai.
According to the criminal complaint, Zhang surveilled the Taiwanese president’s son outside his residence in the Seattle area at the direction of Chinese officials and did not register as a foreign agent as required. The complaint says she captured photos, video and license plate information about him and sent them to an alleged Chinese handler, a former classmate believed to be a Chinese official. Prosecutors said an unidentified second person involved had fled to China two weeks ago.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Elbogen told the court that Zhang has family in China, had a Chinese passport that was not found during an FBI search of her home, and received $190,000 into a Chinese bank account from an unregistered cryptocurrency exchange business. Prosecutors also said she disclosed only one property to pretrial services when she owns several.
Her attorney, Craig Harbaugh, called the property issue a misunderstanding and argued she would not flee because of her strong ties to Southern California, where she lives with her husband and two young daughters. Her family had offered property and bonds as assurance she would appear in court.
Zhang is due back in court as early as Oct. 19 for a preliminary hearing unless prosecutors indict her first.
