FBI in Los Angeles arrests realtor who allegedly worked as Chinese agent

The FBI said Sunday night that agents had arrested a California realtor who allegedly worked for China to surveil the Taiwanese president's son on American soil.

Wanying "Heather" Zhang, 34, of Irvine, Calif., was arrested at LAX before she boarded a flight to Shanghai on a charge of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, according to a criminal complaint released by the bureau and the U.S. Attorney's office.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest should send a message to any foreign power trying to operate on American soil.

"Foreign adversaries take note: America is no longer a safe place to run your espionage operations," Patel said. "Allegedly surveil a foreign leader’s family on U.S. soil for the PRC — and try to catch a flight back to Shanghai? Not happening.

"This FBI is hunting threats to our national security wherever they hide — and bringing them to justice," he added.

The FBI said Zhang "surveilled the Taiwanese President’s son and his family — filming their home, vehicles, and reporting information back to PRC handlers."

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli gave more details on the operation, which allegedly happened in Seattle.

"According to the affidavit, Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 and, at the direction of PRC officials, surveilled a close relative of a Taiwanese government official, sending photos, videos, and license plate information to those officials," he said.

"She coordinated the trip with an associate and used tradecraft to avoid detection. She never notified the Attorney General she was acting for a foreign government, a federal offense," he added.