It’s a lavish liquor store in an unassuming NYC neighborhood, where shoppers’ biggest concern used to be whether spending $5,000 on a bottle of whiskey was a good idea. Now there’s an even bigger problem.
The store’s owner Christopher Hu, 40, and his wife Linda Sun, 41, were this week arrested at their $4.1 million Long Island mansion as part of huge FBI operation to shut down a ‘Chinese spy ring’ that had infiltrated the upper echelons of the Democratic party.
Sun, who was a former deputy chief-of-staff to state Governor Kathy Hochul and ex-aide to Andrew Cuomo, was charged with acting as an undisclosed agent for the Chinese government and using the proceeds of her illegal work to fund the family’s luxury lifestyle. She and her businessman husband were also slapped with money laundering charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Locals and patrons of Hu’s Queens-based liquor store, Leivine Wine & Spirits, have been left stunned by the arrests, with one customer leaving a review online this week that said: ‘The store is very nice. However, I am a little concerned that the owner and his wife were arrested by the FBI.’
Former New York Governor Kathy Hochul aide Linda Sun and her husband, Christopher Hu hold hands as they leave Brooklyn Federal Court after their arraignment on Tuesday. Sun is charged with being an aide to the Chinese government
Premium liquor and wine line the shelves at Leivine Wine & Spirits
The priciest items were displayed behind the register, including a bottle of Dalmore single malt whisky imported from Scotland, aged 30 years, and priced at a staggering $5,200
The store is located in the heart of Flushing at 33-70 Farrington Street and boasts a huge collection of some of the priciest premium wines and spirits on the market.
Located in the lower-level of the building, top-of-the-line offerings adorn the shelves – with one bottle of Dalmore single-malt whiskey aged 30 years and imported from Scotland priced at a staggering $5,200.
Inside there are decorative bottles on display including bottles of vodka in the shape of a rifle made in Ukraine and an oversized gold screw, along with with specialty rum shaped in a bottle shaped like a baseball bat.
The store also has a temperature-controlled wine room with bottles priced between a stunning $20,000 to $50,000.
On the wall were three framed pictures.
One held a certificate from the New York State Liquor Authority. The second, a certificate of authenticity dated September September 20, 2022.
The third picture were two framed hundred dollar bills.
A young man of Asian descent, and employee of the store was shocked when he learned the news that his boss, Christoper Hu, and his wife had been arrested.
‘No way,’ the 20-something said to DailyMail.com.
‘I had no idea.’
The employee, who shared that the store opened in 2022, said he’d only been working there for a few months, adding that Hu occasionally stops in with his wife.
When asked if Hu is a good boss, the young man laughed and replied: ‘He’s a boss.’
Hu’s liquor store is one of several business ventures he’s undertaken in recent years. He also incorporated a company called Medical Supplies USA during the pandemic, New York Times reported.
When DailyMail.com asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office why the liquor store was still open following Hu’s arrest, a spokesman responded ‘no comment’.
The exclusive Dalmore single malt whiskey was displayed prominently behind the counter
The Flushing store is Hu’s only location
Sun was dramatically arrested Tuesday alongside her husband following an earlier dawn raid on their $4million home in Manhasset, Long Island.
Sun and Hu are accused of earning millions in kickbacks from the Chinese Communist Party, helping to fund a lavish lifestyle that included a $2million Hawaii condo and a 2024 Ferrari.
Sun is also alleged to have used her influence to further China’s geopolitical agenda by nixing meetings with Taiwanese officials and steering messaging away from criticism of Beijing’s persecution of Uyghur Muslims.
She and her husband pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday. Her bond was set at $1.5 million while Hu’s is $500,000.
Hochul said she has been assisting the Department of Justice with their investigation for months and will continue to work alongside them.
She blasted Sun’s actions as an ‘absolute betrayal of the trust of two administrations in state government,’ which she said included forging her signature on documents.
Hochul also stressed she retains confidence in the vetting process, claiming that Sun had no real influence over her policies as a ‘mid-level aide’.
Huang Ping, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, was ousted after Sun’s espionage allegations.
The couple outside of Brooklyn Federal Court after their arraignment on Tuesday
The couple’s $4 million mansion located in the exclusive Stone Hill development in Manhasset
Neighbors at the couple’s upmarket home in Manhasset on Long Island, New York, spoke to DailyMail.com about their shock following the arrests.
One resident said he saw more than 20 FBI cars and the canine unit near their house about six weeks ago while he was walking his dog.
‘It was unbelievable,’ he recalled.
‘Everyone is very shocked and surprised. None of us really knew who they were.’
He said the only time he ever spoke to Hu was when he moved into the multi-million dollar mansion roughly three to four years ago – though others believe they have lived their longer.
The neighbor shared that Hu told him he was a contractor when he asked him what he did for a living, and had various other businesses.
He also said occasionally he would see Sun and an older woman, who may also live in the house, go for walks around the community.
Another neighbor said they ‘kept to themselves’ but had ‘parties and people over once in a while.’
‘No one knows what anyone does for a living. It is a very private area, and people go about their own business and keep to themselves,’ he added.
He said when they first moved in he noticed they did a lot of renovations on their home.
The neighbor recalled being home the day the couple’s three cars were impounded but did not remember the type of vehicles they owned.
Describing the scene, he said the street was all blocked off and he saw items being removed from the house late into the night.
When asked how he felt about his neighbor being an alleged Chinese agent, he appeared bemused.
‘What secrets can she get from the governor of New York State to give to the Chinese,’ he said.
