Ex-Epoch Times CFO pleads guilty in $67M multinational money laundering scheme
3 hours ago
- #financial crime
- #Epoch Times
- #money laundering
- Former Epoch Times CFO Weidong 'Bill' Guan pleads guilty to conspiracy in $67 million money laundering scheme involving fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits.
- Guan admitted knowing the money was likely criminal proceeds but failed to investigate, calling it a 'tremendous lapse in judgment.'
- The scheme, run through the company's 'Make Money Online' team, used cryptocurrency and stolen personal information to launder funds via Epoch Times accounts.
- Prosecutors noted a 410% revenue increase for Epoch Times during the laundering, with Guan lying to banks about the source as increased donations.
- The charges are unrelated to the media company's newsgathering activities, and Epoch Times has pledged cooperation with prosecutors.