An American citizen, Thomas Weir Pauken II, accused of secretly working on behalf of the Chinese government, has pleaded guilty in the case. Pauken, 50, admitted in federal court to acting as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notifying the U.S. government, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said, “His actions are a betrayal of this Nation and pose an unacceptable risk to our national security. NSD remains committed to safeguarding information essential to our national security, including through appropriate prosecution.”
“This case illustrates the lengths to which the Chinese Communist Party will go to undermine our democratic institutions and degrade our political freedoms, but it also demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to defend the homeland from threats to our national security,” said the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, Roman Rozhavsky.
Pauken faces a maximum term of ten years in jail and is set to be sentenced on September 1. Here’s all you need to know about him.
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5 key things to know about Thomad Weir Pauken
1. Pauken is an American citizen who lived and worked in China. According to court documents, Pauken spent years living and working in the People’s Republic of China. Prosecutors said his connections in China eventually led to relationships with individuals he knew were associated with the Chinese government and intelligence apparatus.
Authorities allege that his activities on behalf of Chinese contacts continued from at least 2019 through February 2026.
2. Pauken worked under the direction of Chinese handlers. Rozhavsky said, “By his own admission, not only did Thomas Pauken attempt to infiltrate U.S. political circles at the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security, but he gathered intelligence on his American targets and reported it back to his Chinese intelligence handlers.”
The DOJ said that Pauken worked with a woman identified in court documents as “Cathy,” whom he met in 2017 and knew was connected to the Chinese government.
Prosecutors said Cathy assigned him tasks that included meeting potential intelligence assets, delivering communication devices and collecting information sought by Chinese authorities.
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3. Pauken received over $100,000 from the Chinese government. Court records indicate that Pauken was paid at least $100,000 for his activities.
Additionally, Cathy funded Pauken’s multiple trips from China to the United States between 2019 and 2025 in order to meet with people who could supply intelligence to Pauken, Cathy, and the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS).
4. Pauken sold sensitive government-related information. According to prosecutors, Pauken conspired to obtain information from sources inside the United States that could ultimately benefit the PRC government.
A group of Wuhan-based Chinese people looking for information regarding technology and the DOJ purchased reports from Pauken. The Wuhan clients requested that Pauken locate a specialist to assist them in conducting cyber espionage.
5. Pauken worked for Japan in some capacity. Pauken was also employed by “Richard” and “William,” two additional individuals he met in China in 2017. Pauken thought they were employed by the PRC government, but they informed him that reports he wrote for them were sent to Japan.