An Irvine woman accused of acting as an unregistered Chinese agent was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, federal officials said.
The FBI took 34-year-old Wanying “Heather” Zhang into custody as she was attempting to leave for China, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli.
In September 2025, Zhang allegedly went to Seattle and, following orders from Chinese officials, surveilled a Taiwanese government official’s close relative. A copy of the complaint obtained by NBC News indicates the surveillance operation included sending photos, videos and license plate information.
“She coordinated the trip with an associate and used tradecraft to avoid detection,” the federal prosecutor said. “She never notified the Attorney General she was acting for a foreign government, a federal offense.”
Zhang is expected to make her first appearance in federal court in LA on Monday.
