Chinese National Sentenced to 46 Months for Laundering Millions Stolen from U.S. Investors
A Chinese national has been sentenced to 46 months in U.S. federal prison for laundering substantial amounts of money defrauded from American investors through a digital asset investment scheme operated from Southeast Asia.
A Chinese national has been sentenced to 46 months in U.S. federal prison for laundering substantial amounts of money defrauded from American investors through a digital asset investment scheme operated from Southeast Asia.
Jingliang Su, a Chinese citizen, was sentenced for his involvement in laundering over $36.9 million linked to a cryptocurrency fraud scheme managed from Cambodia. He was also ordered to pay $26,867,242.44 in restitution to the victims. Su pleaded guilty in June 2025 to conspiracy to operate an illegal money-transmitting business.
The scheme involved a criminal network using online social engineering tactics, cryptocurrency infrastructure, and offshore banking channels to deceive U.S. investors. This operation relied on unsolicited communication via social media, phone calls, text messages, and online dating platforms to establish contact and promote fraudulent digital asset investment opportunities.
To make the scam appear legitimate, fake cryptocurrency trading websites were created, mimicking real exchanges. Victims were instructed to send funds to these platforms, where they could view fabricated accounts showing false investment growth. In reality, the funds were stolen and laundered through a complex international chain.
He was also ordered to pay $26,867,242.44 in restitution to the victims.
Victim funds were initially funneled into U.S. bank accounts controlled by co-conspirators and consolidated into a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas. The funds were converted into Tether (USDT) and transferred to a wallet controlled in Cambodia, which acted as a distribution hub for further fund movements.
The investigation identified 174 U.S. victims. Eight co-conspirators, including Jose Somarriba and ShengSheng He, have pleaded guilty to related charges, receiving 51-month and 36-month prison sentences, respectively.
The U.S. Secret Service led the investigation with support from Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies. Prosecution was managed by the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Fraud Section, and U.S. Attorneys from the Central District of California.
This sentencing is part of a broader Department of Justice initiative to dismantle scam operations globally, targeting scammers, money launderers, and cross-border facilitators. Since 2020, over 180 cybercrime convictions have been secured, returning more than $350 million to victims.
Based on reporting by GBHackers.