The defendants had a master list for a web of financial transactions. Prosecutors allege they were laundering illicit gains.
NEW YORK—The husband of a former aide to New York governors documented a master list of alleged kickbacks he received from China for many for hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to prosecutors.
Linda Sun, who is on trial for bribery and acting as a foreign agent for China, is accused of abusing her position in the governor’s office to help her husband and cousin secure contracts with New York state at the start of the pandemic. Her husband, Chris Hu, is accused of laundering money he received from China, allegedly as a kickback for contracts his wife facilitated in early March, April, and May of 2020.
The government presented evidence suggesting how the money was laundered through unrelated third parties via an intermediary. Defense attorneys argue the transactions are related to Hu’s legitimate export business selling live lobsters in China.
The prosecution showed an Microsoft Excel file found on Hu’s computer that appears to be a ledger for tracking income. His records show he received many transactions in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Specifically, the Excel file shows he received $100,000 on June 9, 2020, from Rising Sun Global Inc.
Rising Sun Global is owned by Yan Chai, who testified that she worked from her home in Flushing, New York. Chai previously exported health supplements to China with help of a woman named Sandy Hong. Chai testified earlier in the trial that she received wire transfers from China, which Hong instructed her to convert into checks or transfer the money to other accounts. Some of the time, Chai would give the checks to Hong or wire the funds to Golden Capital LLC., a company Chai allegedly had no knowledge of. Golden Capital is owned by Hu. When asked, Chai said she does not know Chris Hu or Linda Sun.
Screenshots of bank records of wire transfers and text message exchanges appear to show Hong coordinating wire transfers to third parties and then setting up in person meetings to send the funds back to Hu in the form of cash or checks.
