Ex-Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang to Plead Guilty to Acting as Illegal Agent of China

Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang, 58, is expected to plead guilty Friday to federal charges of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. The plea agreement, announced by prosecutors, stems from allegations that Wang secretly promoted China's interests before her election to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022.

Wang resigned as mayor and from the council on May 11, 2026, when felony charges were filed. She faces up to 10 years in prison for one count of acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

According to the plea agreement, Wang and her then-fiancé, Mike Sun, operated the website U.S. News Center, which targeted the Chinese American community.

They followed instructions from Chinese government officials to post articles favorable to Beijing without notifying the U.S. government, as required by law.

In one instance, Wang was directed via encrypted message to publish an essay denying human rights abuses against the Uyghur population in China's Xinjiang province, including claims of genocide and forced labor. She made changes to the article at the direction of a Chinese official over several months.

Wang's attorney stated, "She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life. Her love and devotion for the Arcadia community have not changed and did not waver." Earlier, the attorney had said Wang was led astray by someone she trusted.

Wang's relationship with Sun ended in spring 2024. Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to the same charge and is serving a four-year prison term.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said, "People in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy.

This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China's efforts to corrupt our institutions." Arcadia city manager Dominic Lazzaretto confirmed that no city finances or staff were involved, and the charges relate to conduct that ceased after Wang was sworn into office in December 2022.