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The U.S. Department of Justice announced that two Chinese nationals were charged in an alleged scheme to launder proceeds from cryptocurrency investment scams, also known as “pig butchering.” The DOJ said more than $73 million was routed through U.S. financial institutions to accounts in The Bahamas and converted to USDT. The announcement describes allegations, not a finding of guilt.
What the DOJ says the alleged scheme involved
According to the DOJ’s account of court documents, victims were allegedly persuaded to transfer millions of dollars to U.S. bank accounts opened in the names of dozens of shell companies. A network of people allegedly moved the funds through domestic and international bank accounts and cryptocurrency platforms to conceal their source, nature, ownership, and control.
The DOJ said more than $73 million passed through U.S. financial institutions to Bahamian accounts, where the funds were converted to USDT, the cryptocurrency also known as Tether. The agency separately said a cryptocurrency wallet involved in the scheme received more than $341 million in virtual assets. These are distinct figures: the wallet total should not be treated as the amount the DOJ said was laundered in the alleged scheme.
The DOJ alleged that Daren Li and Yicheng Zhang directed lower-level participants who moved proceeds to accounts at Deltec Bank in The Bahamas. One account was allegedly operated with Li’s financial assistance, and Zhang allegedly received victim funds directly. The release also describes communications about commissions, shell companies, victim information, and a video of a conspirator calling a U.S. financial institution. These details are allegations attributed to the DOJ and court documents.
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Who was arrested and what charges were announced
The DOJ identified Daren Li, 41, as a dual citizen of China and St. Kitts and Nevis who lived in China, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates. It said he was arrested on April 12, 2024, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and transported to the Central District of California.
Yicheng Zhang, 38, was identified as a Chinese national living in Temple City, California. The DOJ said he was arrested in Los Angeles on May 16, 2024.
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Both defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and six substantive counts of international money laundering. The DOJ stated that, if convicted, each faced a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. That is the maximum exposure described in the announcement, not a sentence or prediction of the case’s outcome.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated. The DOJ said Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dominican Republic authorities, and the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs assisted. The Criminal Division’s CCIPS/NCET and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California jointly prosecuted the case.
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What the announcement does—and does not—establish
An indictment is an accusation, not proof. The DOJ’s release states: “An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” The announcement, published May 17, 2024 and updated February 6, 2025, describes the charges and arrests but does not establish the case’s later status or final outcome. Read the DOJ announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to report a suspected pig-butchering crypto scam
The DOJ directed people who believe they were victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud to report it at IC3.gov and reference “Pig Butchering PSA.” It asks complainants to provide as much relevant information as possible, including:
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- Investment platform names
- Cryptocurrency addresses and transaction hashes
- Bank account information
- Suspected scammers’ names and contact details
- Copies of communications and transaction records
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