FBI Executes Sweeping Southern California Raids Targeting Local Officials and Media Executive in Probe of Possible Chinese Influence

Federal agents this week executed search warrants at multiple Southern California locations tied to three local political figures and an executive of a Chinese-American media company as part of an active federal inquiry into possible foreign influence.

Who Was Targeted

Curt Hagman — San Bernardino County supervisor for the 4th District; properties connected to him were searched. Alan Wapner — long-serving Ontario city councilmember and president of the Ontario International Airport Authority; agents executed warrants at addresses tied to him. Frank Lizarraga — prominent civil litigator, University of La Verne trustee and former Ontario planning commissioner; his home and/or offices were searched. James Su — chief executive of Chinese‑American media company EDI Media (and G&E Studio); agents searched properties and EDI Media offices linked to him.

Locations and Records Searched

Reported search sites included EDI Media's West Covina offices, a 21,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion at 613 N. Canon Drive, locations tied to the Ontario International Airport and records subpoenaed from Ontario City Hall. The Los Angeles Times, citing the FBI, reported a related warrant was served at the airport. The search-warrant affidavits remain sealed.

What Officials Say

The FBI confirmed the addresses where warrants were executed but declined to describe the specific allegations. No arrests have been reported. A source close to the investigation described it as a public corruption probe with a possible foreign-influence component. Federal officials have otherwise declined comment while the probe remains active.

Context And Related Inquiries

EDI Media registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in May 2022 after previously printing a U.S. edition of a newspaper that some U.S. officials have described as linked to the Chinese government. Public records show EDI Media donated $500 to former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang's 2022 campaign; Wang recently pleaded guilty to charges alleging she acted at the direction of the Chinese government to spread propaganda via a U.S.-facing website.

Public records also show the Beverly Hills property was sold in 2023 for $24.6 million by Mansour Banzani to a mainland Chinese family through corporate entities. Separately, federal agents recently conducted searches in Lancaster tied to an inquiry that a source said sought communications between local officials and Chinese electric-vehicle maker BYD.

Responses

Andrew Cowan, attorney for James Su, said his client is a U.S. citizen who has donated to campaigns across the political spectrum and is uncertain why the FBI executed warrants on properties linked to him. Cowan added Su is personally familiar with Hagman but not the other individuals named in reporting.

U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) said she was "deeply troubled" by reports of warrants executed against elected officials in San Bernardino County and that her community has "zero tolerance for any corruption at any level of our government."

What To Watch

The investigation remains active. With affidavits sealed and details limited, federal officials are continuing to review records and evidence tied to the searches.