New York Man Pleads Guilty in Crypto-Fueled $25M Money Laundering Case

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI announced on Friday that Yanbing Chen, a 30-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty to his involvement in an international money laundering and drug trafficking conspiracy. The organization, led by Jin Hua Zhang of Staten Island, laundered over $25 million in drug proceeds and illegal funds. Chen delivered $50,000 in drug profits, which were converted to Tether, a cryptocurrency, and transferred to Zhang, minus a fee. The funds were traced to multiple countries, including Hong Kong, India, and Brazil. Additionally, Chen transported five kilograms of cocaine in two separate meetings under Zhang’s direction. Zhang had previously pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 15, 2024. Chen’s sentencing is set for Jan. 21, 2025. The conspiracy charges carry severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment and significant fines. Assets in both cash and cryptocurrency tied to the operation were seized.

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