FBI concerned that alleged Chinese agent is a serious flight risk, sources say

October 7, 2026 / 5:34 PM EDT / CBS News

The FBI fears the alleged Chinese agent arrested at LAX on Sunday may try to flee the country if released after her court hearing on Wednesday, law enforcement sources told CBS News.

Investigators claim California realtor Wanying Zhang owned a business in China, regularly has money deposited in a Chinese bank account and has parents, a brother and sister currently living there, CBS News has learned.

One law enforcement source said Zhang also had a Chinese passport that was not recovered during an FBI search of her home.

The sources provided information anonymously as they were not authorized to speak on the record. Zhang's husband and sister declined to comment.

The Orange County mother, 34, is now facing federal prosecution for allegedly surveilling the Taiwanese president's son in Washington last year at the direction of Chinese government officials.

Zhang is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshals in Los Angeles. She was arrested Sunday trying to board a flight to Shanghai at Los Angeles International Airport, CBS News was first to report.

She appeared briefly in court on Monday, represented by a public defender. The judge told Zhang to get…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/