As an analyst with a background in financial crimes and investigation, I find the case of Weidong Guan, also known as Bill Guan, deeply concerning. The allegations against him, as outlined in the Department of Justice (DoJ) indictment, paint a picture of a complex and extensive money laundering scheme that involved cryptocurrency and prepaid debit cards.


Weidong Guan, known as Bill Guan, faced charges from the Department of Justice (DoJ) for being involved in a money laundering operation worth $67 million. The ill-gotten funds were moved through cryptocurrency transactions and prepaid debit cards, with the proceeds being transferred into both Epoch Times’ bank accounts and Guan’s personal banking and crypto accounts.

The Epoch Times functions as a global media organization that primarily appeals to conservative viewpoints and is well-recognized for criticizing the Chinese government. Despite this, the media entity itself was not mentioned in the accusation; it was simply identified as Guan’s workplace, where he holds the position of Chief Financial Officer.

In a recent press announcement, the Department of Justice revealed that from around 2020 up until May 2024, an individual named GUAN, while serving as the CFO of a major media company based in New York City, collaborated with others to execute a complex, global money laundering operation. The illicit funds, totaling over $67 million, were allegedly transferred into bank accounts belonging to the Media Company and related entities.

As a crypto investor following news about The Epoch Times closely, I’ve learned that they have temporarily suspended Guan in response to allegations against him. The spokesperson for the company stated, “We will fully cooperate with any investigation regarding these accusations. In the meantime, although Guan is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, we have made the decision to suspend him during this resolution process.”

According to the Department of Justice, Guan obtained illegal funds through insurance fraud and other criminal activities. He collaborated with individuals from Epoch Times’ “Make Money Online” sector, exchanging cryptocurrency for these proceeds at a rate of 70 to 80 cents per dollar. Subsequently, the crypto was transformed into fiat currency and transferred into Epoch Times’ accounts using pilfered personal information.

As a researcher, I’ve uncovered some intriguing information regarding an alleged financial scheme that is believed to have been active from around 2020 to May 2024. During this timeframe, it is claimed that Guan and his associates laundered an estimated amount of money, ranging from $15 million to $67 million, through this scheme. The ultimate goal was to significantly boost Epoch Times’ annual earnings.

Guan faces a single charge for conspiring to commit money laundering, as well as two counts of bank fraud. The potential prison time for these offenses adds up to a maximum of 80 years. However, Guan has entered not guilty pleas in response to these accusations.

Image by Klaus Hausmann from Pixabay

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2024-06-04 20:34