California real estate agent accused of spying for China allegedly had secret crypto account

The Southern California real estate agent accused of spying on a prominent Taiwanese family for China allegedly had access to $190,000 in a secret Chinese crypto account as allegations surfaced that she was “an unfit mother” during a court hearing Wednesday.

Wanying Zhang appeared at a Los Angeles courthouse wearing a white jumpsuit and shackles alongside new lawyer Craig Harbaugh, who requested home confinement for his client. The government vehemently maintained that she posed a flight risk.

At the hearing, prosecutors accused Zhang of having access to $190,000 in a secret Chinese cryptocurrency account from which she was “still profiting.” They also highlighted Zhang’s brother’s ties to the Chinese government.

Prosecutors pointed to a seized iCloud video that they said showed Zhang was “a danger to society,” arguing that her ties to “her family may not have been as strong as they appeared” as her husband Edric Ding looked.

“You should have produced that video and I could say she is an unfit mother,” Judge Steve Kim said, revealing Zhang had “young children.”

Prosecutors also highlighted a dozen one-way trips Zhang allegedly took to China, Paris and Japan. Harbaugh argued that purchasing one-way tickets was more economical.

Judge Kim ruled that Zhang posed a flight risk and she was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals without bail.

She is due back in court on October 19.

Zhang’s initial hearing Monday took a bizarre turn when his public defender, Chad Pennington, requested a side conversation with the judge seconds into the proceedings, leading to a lengthy 20-minute recess.

When the guests returned, Zhang was asked if she understood what she was being accused of and she replied “yes.”

The real estate agent was arrested at LAX on Sunday after being accused of spying for China. Zhang, also known as “Heather,” was arrested while trying to board a flight to Shanghai.

Video taken shortly after the arrest showed several FBI agents leading Zhang in handcuffs through an airport terminal.

The 34-year-old, who lives in Irvine, is accused of working with People’s Republic of China agents to surveil the son of Taiwanese President Ching-te Lai.

Zhang, who worked for a real estate company with her husband, allegedly traveled to Seattle in September 2025 to spy on Ting-Yu Lai, an engineer in his 30s based in the United States.

Surveillance camera photographs also allegedly caught Zhang sitting in a car with an accomplice taking photos of his home and loved ones.

She appeared to have lived a jet-setting life before federal authorities arrested her.

Zhang has documented her trips to Paris and outings with friends on the West Coast on her social media pages.

She also appears to have graduated from USC, where the total cost of tuition can exceed $75,000 per year.

Ding’s social media shows outings to Korean barbecue restaurants, as well as anime and sword art exhibitions.

The couple is also seen posing with what appears to be their child.

Zhang’s arrest comes amid several other high-profile cases in California involving allegations of covert Chinese government activity or influence.

Disgraced former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang entered the plea in federal court after admitting in March that she was a spy for China.

Former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell admitted to having medicated sex with an alleged Chinese spy, Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang,” according to newly released FBI files in August.

“We have a problem with Beijing using Chinese Americans for its own purposes in California,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “They use them for their own foreign affairs because they are playing the long game to gain a competitive advantage over us. »