A top aide to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been arrested in a sweeping federal corruption case tied to COVID-era fraud. Linda Sun, who remained in government under Governor Kathy Hochul after Cuomo’s resignation, now faces multiple federal charges related to a PPE procurement scheme during the pandemic, according to The New York Post.
Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, are accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that steered state contracts for masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment to vendors in which they held a financial interest. Prosecutors allege the couple made millions during a time of crisis, while falsely presenting their dealings as legitimate. They now face charges including honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, tax evasion, and defrauding the United States.
The case took a darker turn with FBI Director Kash Patel stating Sun acted as an unregistered agent for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “While Americans were locked down and desperate for PPE, Linda Sun and Chris Hu cashed in – allegedly lining their pockets while serving CCP interests,” Patel wrote on X. “This is corruption that endangered lives.”
Federal prosecutors say Sun forged documents that appeared to come from Chinese authorities to help push the PPE deals through. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella emphasized the gravity of the case, saying Sun enriched herself while the state was at its most vulnerable. “We demand better from our public servants,” he said.
FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia added that the scheme exploited New York’s urgent need for supplies, creating “an unearned and undisclosed benefit” for the couple. Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that the case is part of the largest healthcare fraud investigation in Justice Department history. The probe uncovered nearly $15 billion in intended losses across 50 federal districts, involving over 300 defendants.
Sun’s attorney, Jarrod L. Schaeffer, rejected the allegations as “feverish accusations unmoored from facts,” and expressed confidence that the truth will emerge during trial.
As investigations continue, federal officials have made clear their commitment to holding public servants accountable for pandemic-related corruption and the misuse of taxpayer funds.
