FBI Raids Target Southern California Officials and Chinese-American Media Firm Amid Ongoing Foreign-Influence Probe

On July 28, federal agents executed search warrants at homes and offices across Southern California, seizing the residences of San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, Ontario City Councilmember Alan Wapner, attorney Frank Lizarraga, and James Su, president of EDI Media Inc. The raid also swept the Ontario International Airport and Ontario City Hall. No charges have been filed and court records remain sealed.

The FBI has not revealed the investigation’s focus. A federal grand jury has been convened, and subpoenas were issued to the airport and city hall. Wapner and Hagman sit on the airport authority, a fact that may explain the inclusion of the airport in the search.

Experts point out that this probe fits a broader pattern of federal scrutiny of local officials and business leaders with ties to Chinese state‑linked organizations. Audrye Wong, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, noted that cases involving elected officials, business leaders, and individuals connected to Chinese state‑linked entities “fit a broader pattern that federal authorities have increasingly scrutinized in recent years.” She cited the former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang’s 2025 indictment for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and the 2024 investigation of the Chinese electric‑bus manufacturer BYD in Lancaster.

James Su has a documented history of foreign‑agent registration. In 2022 he registered as a foreign agent, and a 2015 Reuters investigation alleged that a subsidiary of the state‑run Chinese Radio International owned a majority stake in his radio company, G&E Studio. Su has repeatedly stated that he is a businessman and not a Chinese agent. His attorney, Andrew Cowan, did not respond to a request for comment.

Su’s media company, EDI Media, is described on its website as the largest Chinese‑American multimedia company in the United States. The company publishes iCity News, a Chinese‑language outlet that Wong has described as “reflective of Chinese propaganda.” Su has donated to political campaigns, including a $1,000 contribution to Wang’s 2022 Arcadia mayoral campaign and a $2,600 payment for airtime. The company’s coverage has promoted Wang and other local officials, and the website has featured articles praising Hagman and other politicians.

The raids also targeted a Beverly Hills mansion that was sold in 2023 to a company based in the British Virgin Islands, Rosy East Limited, and Apollo Capital XI LLC. The property was previously owned by a member of the Barzani family. The FBI’s search of the mansion was not accompanied by a warrant for the adjacent office building on Vineyard Avenue in Ontario, where Lizarraga had previously maintained an office.

The investigation is part of a series of federal actions that include the April Lancaster raid on City Hall and councilmembers’ homes, which was linked to a probe of BYD’s operations in the city. Mayor R. Rex Parris said the common theme was “Chinese influence to get insider access to local projects in exchange for money and gifts.” No charges have been filed in Lancaster either.

California officials have expressed concern that local governments are attractive targets for foreign influence because they oversee infrastructure projects and public contracts. Wong noted that transportation hubs such as airports are especially vulnerable, as they rely on complex supply chains and technology systems that could be compromised.

No public statements have been made by the FBI regarding the scope of the investigation. The agency has not confirmed whether the Southern California raids are connected to the Lancaster probe. U.S. Representative Norma Torres, a Democrat from Pomona, said she had been notified by the FBI but has not requested a full briefing.

The raids underscore the ongoing federal effort to investigate potential foreign influence operations. While no charges have been announced, the investigation remains active and court records are sealed.

The next public development will likely come when the FBI releases additional information or when a grand jury issues indictments. Until then, the investigation remains in its early stages.