New Jersey restaurant owner faces deportation after spying for Chinese government

Ming Xi Zhang, a 61-year-old Chinese citizen, and New Jersey restaurant owner, is in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and may be deported. He was previously convicted of working as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government.

Zhang, who owns Ya Ya Noodles in Montgomery Township and is widely known locally as “Sushi John,” was arrested on March 24 in Newark. He legally entered the US in June 2000 through Los Angeles International Airport, but officials say he later violated the conditions of his stay.

In 2021, Zhang pleaded guilty to operating as an agent for the Chinese government without registering with the US Attorney General — a violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

Federal prosecutors say Zhang secretly met with Chinese intelligence officers in the Bahamas in 2016 and subsequently delivered USD 35,000 to an individual in New Jersey. He also hosted a Chinese operative at his home near Princeton on two separate occasions.

Court documents related to the case remain sealed, leaving some of Zhang’s activities unclear. However, his plea agreement resulted in a sentence of three years’ probation and a $10,000 fine, handed down on April 30, 2024.

He had been released on a $150,000 bond following his guilty plea in 2021, with the condition that he could face removal from the U.S.

ICE officials say his espionage-related activities make him a national security threat. “Any illegal alien conducting activities related to espionage, sabotage or export control against the United States is subject to deportation,” said ICE Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris.

Zhang is currently being held at the Elizabeth Detention Center while awaiting further immigration proceedings.

Despite the gravity of the charges, his restaurant remains open and continues to receive support from the local community. “The whole town has been really supportive,” a staff member told The New York Post. “Everyone’s been coming in, offering phone numbers, talking to his family.”

Zhang’s case comes amid a broader push by U.S. authorities to crack down on foreign influence operations and reinforce national security. In recent years, concerns have grown over Chinese nationals allegedly attempting to access sensitive US locations, including military facilities.

The Department of Homeland Security has also raised alarms over potential threats posed by Chinese-made surveillance devices, warning that they could be exploited to spy on or interfere with American infrastructure.