The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts recently announced that eight people were indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for their roles in an alleged money laundering and transmitting conspiracy scheme involving millions of dollars from drug transactions.
The indictment also alleged a scheme to use stolen gift cards to buy and ship Apple products globally, a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Those charged in the indictment include Shi Rong Zhang, 48, of Windham, N.H.; Qiu Mei Zeng, 47, of Quincy; Vincent Feng, 32, of Quincy; Da Zeng, 30, of Massachusetts; Wei Qing Zeng, 58, of Quincy; Xian Rong Zeng, 45, of Hanover; and Qiu Fang Zeng, 59, of Windham, N.H. Another defendant, Chengzou Liu, 36, of Braintree, was indicted on conspiracy to commit money laundering and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
“These defendants are alleged to have moved tens of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds as part of sophisticated money laundering and transmitting schemes operating out of seemingly lawful businesses that serve Massachusetts residents,” U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins said in the release.
Rollins noted that without a source of money the drug trade dissipates, and laundering the money is a key part of drug trafficking. She added that cutting off funding limits the life blood of the trade, and the indictment sends a message that these types of crime will not be tolerated.
The eight suspects allegedly laundered tens of millions in proceeds from drug sales to fuel the drug crisis gripping the community; Brian D. Boyle, DEA special agent in charge, said in the release. He also noted that efforts by local, state and federal law enforcement have forged a strong relationship with the U.S. District Attorney’s Office.
FBI Special Agent Joseph R. Bonavolonta, who is in charge of the FBI Boston Division, noted in the release that the suspects allegedly used their family-owned eatery in Chinatown as a part of their elaborate global money laundering scam, conducting millions of dollars worth of business off the books.
