logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • SPECIAL SECTIONS
  • GALLERY
  • CONTESTS
  • LIFESTYLE/ENTERTAINMENT
  • GAMES
  • Allegany County Source
    • News
      • local
      • state
      • nation/world
    • Sports
      • local
      • college
      • State
      • national
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • local
        • state
        • nation/world
      • Sports
        • local
        • college
        • State
        • national
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home News Former Hochul, Cuomo aide faces new charges of multimillion-dollar COVID scheme
    Former Hochul, Cuomo aide faces new charges of multimillion-dollar COVID scheme
    Former New York gubernatorial aide Linda Sun leaves Brooklyn Federal Court after her September arraignment in New York. (Associated Press)
    Crime, News, NY State News
    By JOHN ANNESE New York Daily News  
    June 26, 2025

    Former Hochul, Cuomo aide faces new charges of multimillion-dollar COVID scheme

    NEW YORK (TNS) — Linda Sun, the former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused of working as a Chinese agent, also schemed to steer $35 million in state contracts to two PPE vendors run by a cousin and her husband at the height of the COVID pandemic, according to new court filings.

    Sun, 41, and her husband, Chris Hu, 40, were hit with the new allegations in a superseding indictment filed in Brooklyn Federal Court Wednesday.

    Sun, who was working as Cuomo’s deputy chief diversity officer in 2020, was coordinating an effort to buy personal protective equipment and ventilators from China at the start of the pandemic, when the U.S. was grappling with PPE shortages.

    The Chinese government recommended several vendors, and Sun falsely added two companies to that list of recommendations, one run by a second cousin, the other by Hu, according to the indictment.

    She falsely claimed that both companies were recommended by the Chinese government, and on March 21, 2020, altered an e-mail she received from a Jiangsu province official, adding her cousin’s surgical mask business, the feds allege.

    A few days later, she sent an e-mail to New York State procurement officials titled, “Already VERIFIED by Linda Sun,” telling them the company “came recommended by Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce” and that its surgical mask was the “gold standard,” according to the indictment.

    Sun and Hu got $2.3 million in kickbacks for her efforts, the feds allege.

    In all, the state wired the two PPE companies almost $45 million between March and June 2020. The feds found a spreadsheet in one of Hu’s electronic accounts that estimated he and Sun would score $8 million in profits from the deals, including the kickbacks, according to the indictment.

    “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,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said Thursday. “We demand better from our public servants, and this office will continue to hold accountable public officials who enrich themselves at the expense of the New York taxpayers.”

    Sun was already charged in September with working as an agent of China during her time in state government and accused of helping shape state policy in exchange for millions in kickbacks and gifts — including specially cooked salted ducks for her parents.

    She was initially charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, while her husband was charged with money laundering conspiracy, as well as conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of means of identification.

    The new charges include honest services wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit offenses against the U.S. and tax evasion. Sun and Hu are slated to be arraigned on the new charges Monday.

    ——————

    ©2025 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}

    Olean Times Herald

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    Former Hochul, Cuomo aide faces new charges of multimillion-dollar COVID scheme
    Crime, News, NY State News
    Former Hochul, Cuomo aide faces new charges of multimillion-dollar COVID scheme
    By JOHN ANNESE New York Daily News 
    June 26, 2025
    NEW YORK (TNS) — Linda Sun, the former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused of working as a Chinese agent, also schemed to steer...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    Local News, Press Releases, Western New York
    PROS ham radio group hosting Field Days
    June 26, 2025
    SPRINGVILLE — The PROS (Pioneer, Radio, Operators Society) ham radio group in Western New York is hosting a 2025 ARRL Field Days on Saturday and Sunda...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    East Otto Historical Museum opening for summer July 6
    Cattaraugus County, Local News
    East Otto Historical Museum opening for summer July 6
    June 26, 2025
    EAST OTTO — The East Otto Historical Museum, housed in the town’s oldest building built in 1834, will be open from 1–3 p.m. every Sunday during July, ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    Olean Kennel Club hears surprising science behind lost dog behavior
    Local News, News
    Olean Kennel Club hears surprising science behind lost dog behavior
    June 26, 2025
    OLEAN — On Sunday, over 20 local dog lovers gathered at the Olean Kennel Club for a powerful, eye-opening seminar on lost dog recovery, led by Vicki C...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    NY attorney general: Police chases should mostly be banned
    Crime, News, NY State News
    NY attorney general: Police chases should mostly be banned
    By EMILIE MUNSON Times Union, Albany 
    June 26, 2025
    ALBANY (TNS) — Attorney General Letitia James says New York should ban most high-speed police chases, highlighting the dangers pursuits pose at a time...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    All states need workplace heat laws
    Commentary, Opinion
    All states need workplace heat laws
    By TERRI GERSTEIN New York Daily News 
    June 26, 2025
    NEW YORK (TNS) — Much of New York was under a state of emergency this past week because of a blistering heat wave. State and local authorities made cl...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    Allegany County Source
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Cattaraugus County Source
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Salamanca Press mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Salamanca Press on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with Olean Times Herald

    Submit Content
    Send a Letter to the Editor Place Wedding Announcement Place Engagement Announcement
    Advertise
    Place Birth Announcement Place Anniversary Announcement Place Obituary
    Subscribe
    Start a Subscription e-Edition Contact Us
    Illinois Hancock Journal-Pilot Iroquois Times-Republic Journal-Republican The News-Gazette
    Indiana Fountain Co. Neighbor Herald Journal KV Post News Newton Co. Enterprise Rensselaer Republican Review-Republican
    Iowa Atlantic News Telegraph Audubon Advocate-Journal Barr's Post Card News Burlington Hawk Eye Collector's Journal Fayette County Union Ft. Madison Daily Democrat Independence Bulletin-Journal Keokuk Daily Gate City Oelwein Daily Register Vinton Newspapers Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan Iosco County News-Herald Ludington Daily News Oceana's Herald-Journal Oscoda Press White Lake Beacon New York Finger Lakes Times Olean Times Herald Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania Bradford Era Clearfield Progress Courier Express Free Press Courier Jeffersonian Democrat Leader Vindicator Potter Leader-Enterprise The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright Olean Times Herald 639 Norton Drive, Olean, NY 14760  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA