A realtor based in Irvine, California, named Wanying “Heather” Zhang, aged 34, was arrested Sunday. She is accused of operating as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government. The arrest occurred at Los Angeles International Airport while she was trying to travel to China.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli shared details of the arrest on the platform X. Zhang allegedly visited Seattle in 2025 to monitor a close relative of a Taiwanese government official. During this trip, she reportedly collected and sent photos, videos, and license plate information to Chinese officials.

“She coordinated the trip with an associate and used tradecraft to avoid detection,” Essayli stated. “She never notified the Attorney General that she was acting on behalf of a foreign government, which is a federal offense.”

This story is still evolving, with more information expected to be released soon.