In a big improvement, the US Division of Justice (DOJ) has indicted Invoice Guan, the Chief Monetary Officer of Epoch Occasions, a worldwide newspaper and media firm, on allegations of collaborating in a scheme to launder roughly $67 million utilizing crypto.
The indictment accuses Guan of being concerned in a “transnational cash laundering conspiracy,” benefiting himself, the media firm, and its associates.
Multi-Million Crypto Cash Laundering Scheme
In accordance with US Legal professional Damian Williams, Guan allegedly conspired with others to launder “tens of tens of millions of {dollars}” obtained by “fraudulent unemployment insurance coverage advantages” and different illicit actions.
The indictment additional alleges that Guan, because the CFO of Epoch Occasions, performed a central position within the sprawling cash laundering scheme from 2020 till Could 2024.
Underneath his administration, the corporate’s “Make Cash On-line” crew (MMO Group) utilized crypto to buy tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in crime proceeds, together with fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance coverage advantages loaded onto pay as you go debit playing cards.
Members within the scheme, together with the MMO Group and others, bought the proceeds of the crime at discounted charges utilizing a particular however undisclosed digital asset platform.
Stolen private identification info was then used to open accounts, together with pay as you go debit card accounts, cryptocurrency accounts, and financial institution accounts, to switch the illicit funds to the Media Entities related to Epoch Occasions.
The crime proceeds had been subsequently laundered by varied financial institution accounts held by the Media Entities, Guan’s private financial institution accounts, and his cryptocurrency accounts.
A long time In Jail?
In the course of the interval coinciding with the cash laundering actions, the DOJ alleges that Epoch Occasions’ inner monetary accounting confirmed a staggering 410% enhance in annual income in comparison with the earlier yr, reaching roughly $62 million.
When questioned by banks concerning the sudden surge in transactions, Guan allegedly lied, claiming that the funds originated from donations. Nevertheless, in 2022, Guan wrote a letter falsely stating that donations constituted an insignificant portion of the corporate’s general income.
Guan, residing in Secaucus, New Jersey, faces fees of conspiring to commit cash laundering, carrying a most sentence of 20 years in jail and two counts of financial institution fraud, every carrying a most sentence of 30 years in jail.
The investigation concerned collaboration between a number of legislation enforcement businesses. Jonathan Mellone, the Particular Agent of the Division of Labor Workplace of Inspector Basic (DOL-OIG), emphasised their mission to research fraud allegations associated to the US Division of Labor’s unemployment insurance coverage program.
The costs towards the defendant are allegations, and the decide will decide any sentencing after trial.
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