An American journalist has pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Thomas Pauken II entered the guilty plea for charges related to acting as a Chinese intelligence agent without registering with U.S. authorities as required by law. The case represents the latest in a series of prosecutions targeting alleged Chinese intelligence operations on American soil.

According to court documents, Pauken gathered information on American targets and attempted to infiltrate political circles as part of his activities for Chinese intelligence services. The specific nature of the information collected and the targets involved were not detailed in the initial court filings.

The charges fall under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires individuals acting on behalf of foreign governments to register their activities with the Justice Department. Violations of FARA can result in significant prison sentences and fines.

Sentencing details and the potential prison term Pauken faces were not immediately available. The case is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to counter what intelligence officials have described as extensive Chinese espionage activities targeting American political, economic, and technological interests.