Chinese National sentenced for role in pig butchering scheme

Feb 19, 2026 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice

This case reached the sentenced stage in the Department of Justice's public record. Everything below reflects only what the government itself announced, and links to the original release.

A Chinese national has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a scheme to launder the proceeds of cryptocurrency investment scams and other fraudulent schemes involving millions of dollars in victim funds, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

District

Eastern Texas

Announced

Feb 19, 2026

Forfeiture

$2.3M

Status

Sentenced

Defendants

Fei Liao — age 31 · San Gabriel, California · sentenced

Charges

Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Max: 40 months in federal prisonFei Liao· pleaded guilty

Financial actions

forfeiture: $2.3 million — Forfeiture of over $2.3 million in seized currency
restitution: $2.8 million — Restitution of more than $2.8 million to the victims that directed money to his accounts

Investigating agencies

United States Secret ServiceUnited States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas

Case details

Prosecuting office: Eastern District of Texas
Judge: J. Campbell Barker, U.S. District Judge

Asset Forfeiture And RestitutionCryptocurrencyInternational ElementMoney LaunderingPig Butchering ScamShell Companies And Bank AccountsVictim Reporting And Awareness

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.