Wanying Zhang was detained at LAX while allegedly preparing to board a one-way flight to China. On Wednesday, the real estate professional rendered $800,000 in property equity to avoid a flight risk.
By Catholics for Catholics
A posh California real estate agent accused of allegedly spying on a relative of Taiwan’s president for the Chinese government sought release from federal custody Wednesday, putting down more than $800,000 in property equity and financial guarantees while contending prosecutors’ claims that she posed a flight risk.
Wanying Zhang, 34, of Irvine, contended through her attorney that her American citizenship, family links and history of coming back from overseas voyages showed she would appear for upcoming court dealings, according to a nine-page defense filing obtained by Fox News Digital.
Authorities detained Zhang Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport while she was getting ready to board a flight to China. She faces a federal charge of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
Craig Harbaugh, Zhang’s lawyer, told the court that she came to the United States in 2014, became a U.S. citizen in 2020 and has worked in Orange County real estate for approximately a decade.
A California woman arrested on Sunday after being accused of spying on a son of Taiwan’s president at the behest of Chinese officials will remain in federal custody, a federal judge ruled Wednesday during a court hearing. Prosecutors argued that 34-year-old realtor Wanying Zhang posed a great flight risk. Zhang’s defense attorney argued she would not flee because she has strong family ties in Southern California, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. But prosecutors countered that she had “hundreds of thousands of dollars available to her” in China, as well as investments in a business and contacts that could allow her to flee easily. She’s expected back in court on Oct. 19. Watch till the end. #ChineseSpy #Custody
— NTD News (@NTDNews) October 8, 2026
According to the filing, Zhang resides with her husband and their two daughters, ages 8 and 5.
According to an FBI affidavit, investigators examined security-camera footage which allegedly shows Zhang and another individual photographing the person and family members close to their home.
Federal authorities also contend that Zhang passed along photographs, video and vehicle information to a suspected Chinese government official through electronic communications.
In addition, detectives said Zhang studied in China’s University of International Relations in Beijing, which the FBI described as closely connected with China’s intelligence apparatus.
Zhang faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
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