Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Two men were sentenced in federal court in Boston for their roles in an international money laundering and drug trafficking operation. Yanbing Chen, a 30-year-old Chinese national living unlawfully in Brooklyn, New York, received a sentence of 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges including money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Thong Nguyen, 31, from Everett, Massachusetts, was sentenced to four months in prison followed by one year of home detention and two additional years of supervised release after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy.
In May 2023, both Chen and Nguyen were among twelve individuals charged across several states—including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and California—in connection with the alleged organization led by Jin Hua Zhang. Authorities first detected Zhang’s group in 2021 operating throughout the greater Boston area as well as internationally. According to charging documents, Zhang laundered bulk cash for drug dealers and processed profits from other illegal businesses for a fee. The organization is alleged to have laundered at least $25 million within less than a year through various countries including Hong Kong, China, India, Cambodia, and Brazil.
In July 2022, Chen delivered $50,000 in drug proceeds on behalf of Zhang to undercover agents for laundering purposes. The funds were converted into Tether cryptocurrency before being returned to criminal organizations using Zhang’s services. Law enforcement traced these transactions internationally and seized cash and cryptocurrency tied to the operation.
Additionally, during meetings arranged by Zhang in August and September 2022 in Boston, Chen delivered five kilograms of cocaine while under law enforcement surveillance. Nguyen’s involvement included laundering or attempting to launder over $213,000 derived from marijuana trafficking between March and April 2022; he transferred these funds to Zhang’s organization which then converted them into Tether before returning them.
Jin Hua Zhang pleaded guilty in September 2023; sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2025.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Quincy Police Department also provided valuable assistance to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.”
“The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
