Epoch Times CFO charged in $67M money laundering scheme
By 
Aaron Nicodemus2024-06-04T18:40:00
The chief financial officer of the Epoch Times was charged with laundering at least $67 million in illegally obtained funds to bolster the fortunes of the newspaper and himself.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Weidong Guan, also known as Bill Guan, with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering and two counts of bank fraud in an indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The Epoch Times is a right-leaning newspaper affiliated with Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned in China. The DOJ said the charges against Guan “do not relate to the media company’s newsgathering activities.” The agency did not name the Epoch Times as Guan’s employer, but the connection was acknowledged by the company in an online statement.
THIS IS MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT
You are not logged in and do not have access to members-only content.
If you are already a registered user or a member, SIGN IN now.
Related articles
-
News BriefHF Foods to pay $3.9M to settle execs’ alleged fraud
Food service distributor HF Foods Group agreed to pay a $3.9 million penalty as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding alleged fraudulent conduct carried out by its former chief executive officer and former chief financial officer.
-
News BriefTD Bank risk chief laments ‘procedural weaknesses’ in U.S. AML program
TD Bank Chief Risk Officer Ajai Bambawale said “procedural weaknesses” in the institution’s U.S. anti-money laundering program allowed bad actors to exploit its network.
-
News BriefSkyCity Entertainment bracing for nearly $50M in AML penalties
Australian gaming company SkyCity Entertainment Group faces nearly $50 million in penalties for admitted breaches of anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism obligations in Australia and New Zealand.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefCFPB pullback signals further shift toward industry-friendly regulation
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to unravel amid pressure from Trump administration officials to shutter the agency. Not only has the agency informed its employees that it will no longer be a watchdog for the financial services industry, it has also laid off employees despite court orders blocking ...
-
News BriefTrump’s CFPB, dismissing Comerica case, continues to cut down Biden-era lawsuits
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dropped yet another consumer protection lawsuit against a bank or fintech provider since Donald Trump was sworn in as president in January. This time, it was with Comerica Bank.
-
News BriefCash App parent to pay $40 million for alleged BSA/AML violations in New York
Block Inc., maker of the popular Cash App, has been hit with a $40 million fine by New York for its alleged failure to report suspicious activity. The move marks the latest in a string of recent state and federal enforcement actions against the company.