Chinese national Jingliang Su has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for laundering millions from a crypto scam. Su, 45, was sentenced on January 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Gary Klausner. The court also ordered him to pay $26.8 million in restitution to victims. Su had pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal money-transmitting business.
The scam, which defrauded 174 U.S. citizens of over $36.9 million, involved international networks and digital assets. According to the U.S. Department of Justice victims were tricked into fake crypto investments and their funds were laundered overseas.
According to court records, the fraud scheme began with U.S. victims being contacted through online dating sites, text messages, phone calls, and social media. These interactions were unsolicited and designed to build trust.
Chinese National Sentenced to Prison for Role in Crypto Scam Targeting Americans
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— Criminal Division (@DOJCrimDiv) January 27, 2026
The conspirators then promoted fraudulent digital asset investments through fake websites that looked like legitimate trading platforms. Victims were led to believe their investments were increasing in value. However, the funds were being stolen and laundered by Su and others.
Once the victims transferred money to accounts controlled by the conspirators, the funds were moved through U.S.-based shell companies and foreign bank accounts. More than $36.9 million was ultimately moved from the U.S. to Deltec Bank in the Bahamas.
Prosecutors say Su helped convert the funds into the stablecoin Tether (USDT). The crypto assets were then transferred to digital wallets in Cambodia and later sent to scam center leaders in the region. The laundering process concealed the source and ownership of the stolen funds.
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 and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service also provided support.
Assistance also came from the U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, and the Dominican National Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nisha Chandran and several Justice Department trial attorneys prosecuted the case.
Assistant Attorney General Tysen Duva said, “In the digital age, criminals have found new ways to weaponize the internet for fraud.” He added that criminals use social media, fake websites, and crypto to steal and hide funds.
Eight co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty in connection to this scheme. Among them were Jose Somarriba and ShengSheng He. They were sentenced to 36 and 51 months in prison, respectively. Like Su, they faced charges related to operating unlicensed money-transmitting businesses.
The Criminal Division will continue working with law enforcement to seize crime-linked crypto assets, dismantle digital infrastructure used in scams, and disrupt money laundering networks. The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) has obtained over 180 cybercrime convictions since 2020 and helped recover more than $350 million for victims.
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