American Citizen Admits to Working for Chinese Intelligence

Thomas Weir Pauken II, an American citizen, confessed to collaborating with Chinese intelligence agents over several years. He assisted in gathering information on U.S. targets and tried to infiltrate American political sectors, as revealed by federal authorities.

At 50, Pauken pleaded guilty to acting as an agent for the People’s Republic of China within the United States without the required notification to the attorney general. The Department of Justice made this announcement following his plea.

The FBI issued a warning, stating that this case exemplifies the extent of the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to collect intelligence and influence activities in the U.S. FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky emphasized Pauken’s admission of attempting to penetrate U.S. political circles under instructions from China’s Ministry of State Security. Pauken collected and communicated intelligence on American targets to his Chinese handlers.

Federal prosecutors revealed that Pauken had relationships with multiple contacts in China. These contacts tasked him with identifying and recruiting individuals in the U.S. who could provide valuable information to Chinese intelligence. Court documents show Pauken acted as a liaison between these contacts and U.S. individuals, coordinating communications and passing on gathered intelligence.

Authorities claim Pauken received over $100,000 for his endeavors and frequently traveled between China and the U.S. over several years as part of these operations.

Prosecutors also indicated that Pauken prepared reports for other China-based contacts whom he believed were linked to the Chinese government. Investigators stated that he supplied a Wuhan-based group with information on American technology, the Justice Department, and sought expertise to support Chinese cyber operations.

Rozhavsky highlighted the case as a depiction of foreign intelligence services targeting American institutions. He asserted that this incident demonstrates both the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to undermine U.S. democratic institutions and the FBI’s determination to protect national security.

Pauken’s sentencing is scheduled for September 1. He faces a potential 10-year federal prison sentence, subject to the judge’s final decision.

This investigation involved the FBI’s Philadelphia and Washington field offices.