US Court Sentences Chinese National to Nearly Four Years for $37 Million Crypto Fraud

A Chinese man has been sentenced to almost four years in prison for laundering nearly $37 million that was taken from American victims through a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam based in Cambodia. Jingliang Su, aged 45, was also ordered to pay restitution. This case highlights the increasing determination of U.S. authorities to combat international fraud schemes.

Key Takeaways

Jingliang Su has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for his involvement in laundering over $36.9 million from U.S. victims through a crypto scam.
The scheme involved fake investments promoted through social media and dating sites, leading victims to believe they were participating in legitimate trading.
Funds were transferred from U.S. bank accounts to Deltec Bank in the Bahamas, where they were converted to Tether (USDT) and funneled to Cambodia.
Su's case is part of a broader crackdown on cryptocurrency-related fraud by U.S. federal agencies.

US Court Sentences Chinese National to Nearly 4 Years for $37M Crypto Fraud

Romance Scams and Fake Trading Platforms Target Victims

The fraudulent activities began when international conspirators reached out to American victims via unsolicited messages on social media, phone calls, texts, and dating websites.

Once rapport was built, the fraudsters promoted fake investment opportunities in digital assets that seemed legitimate. They created counterfeit websites mimicking real cryptocurrency trading platforms, coercing victims into sending their funds to these deceptive sites.

Victims were then misled into believing their investments were thriving, while, in reality, their money had already been stolen.

“This defendant and his co-conspirators scammed 174 Americans out of their hard-earned money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva from the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “In the digital age, criminals have found new ways to weaponize the internet for fraud.”

$37 Million Laundered from the Bahamas to Cambodia

The stolen funds followed a meticulously planned route intended to disguise their illegal origins.

More than $36.9 million was moved from U.S. bank accounts controlled by the conspirators to a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas. Su and his accomplices directed the bank to convert these victim payments into Tether (USDT) and then transfer the digital currency to a wallet located in Cambodia.

Chinese National Crypto Fraud - TRM Lab Chart

From that point, co-conspirators in Cambodia distributed the USDT to other leaders of scam operations throughout the region.

“While new investment opportunities may seem appealing, they can attract criminals who exploit them for illegal gains, as seen in this case where tens of millions were stolen and laundered,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “I urge the investing public to be vigilant. A single preventive step is often worth more than many corrective steps after the fact.”

Eight Defendants Sentenced as Crackdown Intensifies

Since Su's arrest in December 2024, he has been among eight co-conspirators who have admitted guilt in this case.

Jose Somarriba and ShengSheng He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to operating an unregistered money transmitting business, receiving respective sentences of 36 months and 51 months behind bars.

This recent sentencing contributes to the ongoing efforts of the Criminal Division to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute individuals involved in scam center activities globally.

DOJ's Broader War on Crypto Crime

Su's sentencing occurs amid a heightened focus by U.S. federal agencies to tackle fraud related to cryptocurrencies.

Just a day before this case's ruling, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the forfeiture of over $400 million in assets associated with Helix, a darknet cryptocurrency mixer that laundered money from illicit online marketplaces between 2014 and 2017.

According to the DOJ Criminal Division’s 2025 Year in Review, released on January 23, a total of 265 defendants faced charges in fraud cases that resulted in losses exceeding $16 billion, nearly double the amount noted the previous year.

Chinese National Crypto Fraud - Summary of 2025 Fraud Section Individual Prosecutions

The DOJ acknowledges that cryptocurrency is increasingly favored for transferring illicit funds and laundering activities. The Criminal Division plans to utilize its global network of International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property prosecutors to collaborate effectively with international law enforcement entities.

Since 2020, the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section has achieved more than 180 convictions related to cybercrime and secured court orders for the return of over $350 million of stolen funds to victims.