A U.S. federal court has sentenced Jingliang Su, a Chinese national, to 46 months in prison for his role in laundering nearly $36.9 million tied to a large-scale crypto fraud scheme that targeted American victims.
Prosecutors say the case highlights the growing reach of so-called “pig butchering” scams, where victims are slowly groomed online before being financially drained using digital assets.
How the scam targeted victims
According to U.S. authorities, Su was part of an international network that used social media, dating apps, text messages, and phone calls to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investment platforms. These websites were designed to look legitimate and displayed fabricated profits, convincing users to deposit more money over time.
Behind the scenes, the funds were quietly siphoned away.
Investigators say at least 174 U.S. victims were defrauded through these tactics, believing they were participating in high-yield crypto investments when, in reality, their money was being funneled into criminal wallets.
Following the money trail
Court filings show that more than $36.9 million was first moved from U.S. bank accounts into an account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas. From there, the funds were converted into Tether and sent to wallets based in Cambodia, where other members of the network distributed the money to regional scam operations.
Su pleaded guilty in June 2025 to conspiracy to operate an illegal money-transmitting business. In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered him to pay more than $26 million in restitution. He has been in U.S. federal custody since December 2024.
Part of a wider crackdown on pig-butchering fraud
Authorities say Su is one of nine defendants charged in the case, with several co-conspirators already sentenced. U.S. officials view this prosecution as part of a broader effort to dismantle international fraud rings that rely on crypto rails to move money quickly across borders.
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reports that pig-butchering and fake investment schemes remained the most damaging crypto scams in 2025, contributing to more than $17 billion in global losses.
Law enforcement agencies have also linked similar operations to forced-labor scam centers in Southeast Asia, underscoring the human cost behind these financial crimes.
Why this case matters
While cryptocurrencies offer speed and global access, prosecutors warn that those same features continue to be exploited by organized fraud networks. The sentencing of Jingliang Su sends a message that crypto-based laundering is not beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement, even when funds cross multiple jurisdictions.
