Chinese Man Sentenced to 46 Months in $36.9M Crypto Scam

The Anatomy of the Fraud

The case centers on more than $36.9 million stolen from 174 American victims through a coordinated international fraud scheme. Prosecutors described a pattern that began with unsolicited contacts from overseas operators who used social media messages, phone calls, text messages, and dating applications to build rapport with targets.

Once trust was established, the scammers pitched fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities, directing victims to fraudulent websites designed to resemble legitimate trading platforms.

Victims transferred money into accounts controlled by the conspirators, often believing their investments were growing rapidly. The sites displayed fabricated profit figures to encourage further deposits, while the operators quietly diverted the funds.

Over time, the scheme collected more than $36.9 million from U.S. bank accounts linked to the victims.

Money Laundering and Global Movement

Su played a key role in the laundering stage. Funds moved from those domestic accounts to a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas.

• From there, Su and his co-conspirators instructed the bank to convert the money into Tether (USDT), a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar.
• The USDT was then transferred to digital wallets controlled in Cambodia, where it was distributed to leaders of regional scam centers.

This route allowed the proceeds to disappear quickly into offshore and cryptocurrency systems, complicating recovery efforts.

The operation fits the profile of so-called “pig butchering” scams, a term that refers to the methodical way fraudsters cultivate relationships with victims before exploiting them financially.

• These schemes have proliferated in recent years, often operating out of compounds in Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia.

Law enforcement agencies have documented how such centers use digital tools to target victims globally, with cryptocurrency enabling fast, pseudonymous transfers that evade traditional banking oversight.

Prosecution and Judicial Outcomes

Su pleaded guilty in June 2025. He had been in federal custody since December 2024.

His sentence reflects a broader push by U.S. authorities to disrupt these networks. Eight co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty in the same conspiracy.

• ShengSheng He, a California resident, received 51 months in prison in September 2025 for his involvement.
• Jose Somarriba was sentenced to 36 months.

The government’s investigation highlighted the use of U.S. shell companies, international bank accounts, and digital wallets to obscure the money trail.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center, Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, and other agencies, including support from the Dominican National Police and U.S. Marshals Service.

Prosecutors from the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Fraud Section handled the case, alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Central District of California.

The Broad Fight Against Crypto Fraud

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division noted that criminals continue to adapt technology to commit fraud at scale. He pointed to the use of phones, social media, and fake websites to steal funds, followed by laundering through cryptocurrency and international wires.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California warned investors to approach new opportunities with caution, emphasizing that promising returns often mask criminal intent.

The sentencing arrives amid heightened scrutiny of cryptocurrency-related fraud. Authorities have intensified efforts to trace and seize illicit digital assets, dismantle scam infrastructure, and coordinate with foreign partners. Chainalysis estimates that crypto scams generated over $17 billion in losses in 2025 alone.

The Justice Department has returned hundreds of millions to victims in related cases since 2020, often through forfeiture actions and private-sector cooperation.

High-profile actions illustrate the government’s aggressive stance. In October 2025, the DOJ seized approximately $15 billion worth of bitcoin, 127,271 BTC, from wallets linked to a massive pig butchering operation run by Cambodian national Chen Zhi and the Prince Group.

This remains the largest cryptocurrency forfeiture in U.S. history, tied to forced-labor scam compounds in Southeast Asia that targeted victims worldwide through fake investment platforms.

Su’s 46-month sentence shows U.S. authorities can reach across borders to hold participants accountable, even when scams run from distant centers using digital tools. As these networks adapt to blockchain tracing, stablecoin freezes, and international cooperation, the threat persists.

Vigilance remains essential against schemes that exploit trust for quick gains.