Chinese national charged in “pig butchering” scheme

May 21, 2024 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice

The charges described here are allegations. The defendant(s) are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. This page reflects only what the Department of Justice has publicly announced, and links to the original release.

A Chinese national has been charged with participating in a scheme to launder the proceeds of cryptocurrency investment scams and other fraudulent schemes involving millions of dollars in victim funds in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

District

Eastern Texas

Announced

May 21, 2024

Status

Charged

Defendants

Fei Liao — age 29 · San Gabriel, California · indicted

Charges

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Max: 20 years in federal prisonFei Liao· indicted, pleaded not guilty
Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Max: 20 years in federal prisonFei Liao· indicted, pleaded not guilty

Investigating agencies

U.S. Secret Service

Case details

Prosecuting office: Eastern District of Texas

Cryptocurrency FraudInternational Cooperation And ScopeLaw Enforcement Investigation And ProsecutionMoney LaunderingPig Butchering ScamShell Companies And Bank AccountsVictim Reporting And AwarenessWire Fraud Conspiracy

Primary source

Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.

Read the original DOJ release →

This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.