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.
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 BriefFTC raises antitrust concerns over $1.57B Circle K deal, orders divestitures
Since President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has yet to keep up the level of enforcement it had under previous chair Lina Khan. The agency, however, returned to antitrust action in the case of fuel stations, just in time for the July 4th holiday.
-
News BriefJudge reinstates fired CPSC commissioners in latest battle over government cuts
In May, three commissioners for the Consumer Product Safety Commission were abruptly fired by President Donald Trump and sued for their jobs shortly after. A federal judge has ruled that the commissioners should be reinstated, although it’s unclear whether that ruling may itself be reversed.
-
PremiumUK’s Failure to Prevent Fraud law may expose firms to unlimited fines and prosecution, says Moody’s compliance risk expert
Fraud now accounts for around 40% of all crime in the U.K., posing a major problem for banks and consumers. Ted Datta, head of industry practice for financial crime compliance at Moody’s, warns that the risk is growing fast.