Two Chinese nationals and a woman from New York have pleaded guilty to money laundering charges related to drug trafficking proceeds. The announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. These individuals are the final three defendants in a case involving a Chinese money laundering organization (CMLO) that allegedly laundered over $92 million.
Court documents reveal that Enhua Fang, 38, Jianfei Lu, 30, both from China, and Shu Jun Zhen, 36, from Staten Island, New York, were involved in laundering illicit funds obtained through drug importation and distribution in the United States via Mexico.
Fang is identified as an organizer within the CMLO who directed couriers to collect cash from illegal activities across the U.S. These funds were then deposited into shell company accounts controlled by the CMLO. Fang admitted responsibility for laundering at least $90 million in less than two years and acknowledged that these funds included drug trafficking proceeds.
Lu's role involved collecting drug trafficking proceeds and depositing them into shell company accounts using real and fake identities. He also managed cash pickups and deposits while procuring fake driver’s licenses for couriers. Lu admitted involvement in laundering between $25 million and $65 million.
Zhen acted under Fang's and Lu's direction to pick up and deposit nearly $25 million of illicit cash using real and fake identities. She admitted knowing these funds were related to drug trafficking.
Fang and Zhen each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering among other charges. Lu pleaded guilty to similar charges with additional counts of monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.
The defendants face up to 20 years in prison for each conspiracy and money laundering count, with additional penalties possible for monetary transaction counts. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge considering statutory factors.
This case marks the dismantling of this particular cell within the CMLO as all charged members have now pleaded guilty. U.S. Attorney Ferguson made this announcement alongside officials from various agencies including the DEA Atlanta Division and IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office.
The investigation is being conducted by DEA Charlotte District Office along with IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office. Prosecutors include Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa among others from different divisions handling narcotic-related cases.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators through coordinated efforts by various justice departments.
