US Authorities Arrest Two in $73 Million Crypto Money Laundering Scheme

Two individuals have been arrested by U.S. authorities for their alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme amounting to over $73 million. Daren Li was apprehended at Atlanta’s airport in Georgia on April 12, while Yicheng Zhang was arrested in Los Angeles on May 16. The indictment, unsealed in a California court on May 16, revealed their purported roles in a transnational criminal network that laundered funds from "pig butchering” crypto scams. These scams typically involve persuading victims to invest large sums, which are then funnelled through U.S. bank accounts under shell companies to launder the illicit funds. The scheme resulted in over $73 million being laundered through U.S. financial institutions and converted into Tether’s USDT token. If convicted, Li and Zhang could each face up to 140 years in prison for charges including conspiring to launder money and international money laundering. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasised the resolve to combat cryptocurrency fraud, acknowledging the challenges posed by such crimes while underscoring the commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.