The US District Court for the Central District of California sentenced a 45-year-old Chinese man surnamed Su to 46 months in prison on January 27 for his role in a cryptocurrency-investment scam targeting Americans and operated from scam compounds in Cambodia. He was ordered to pay about US$26.87 million in restitution. More than US$36.9 million was involved, with 174 US victims.
Court documents said Su pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal money-transmitting business. The international network he joined contacted victims through social media, telephone calls and dating platforms, inducing transfers to accounts controlled by co-conspirators. The money was then systematically laundered through US shell companies, international bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, ultimately reaching Cambodia-based scam operations.
Investigators also found fake cryptocurrency-trading websites showing fictitious investment gains while funds were stolen. Eight co-conspirators had pleaded guilty by the time of the announcement, with two given sentences of 36 and 51 months. The Justice Department said the case formed part of its campaign against global scam centres, using seizure and forfeiture of crime-linked cryptocurrency, dismantling of fraudulent digital infrastructure and disruption of cross-border money laundering to restrict transnational scam operations.
Compiled reporting by KPS99TV.
