{"id":2047290,"date":"2023-09-27T21:40:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T01:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trio-from-los-angeles-county-convicted-of-money-laundering-using-gift-cards\/"},"modified":"2023-09-27T21:42:51","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T01:42:51","slug":"trio-from-los-angeles-county-convicted-of-money-laundering-using-gift-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trio-from-los-angeles-county-convicted-of-money-laundering-using-gift-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"Three individuals from Los Angeles County found guilty of money laundering through gift cards."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrio-from-los-angeles-county-convicted-of-money-laundering-using-gift-cards%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2047290&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Three \u2062Los Angeles County \u200dResidents Convicted of\u2062 Money Laundering \u2062Scheme<\/h2>\n<p>LOS ANGELES\u2014In a dramatic conclusion\u200c to a 10-day trial, three individuals from Los Angeles County \u200dwere found \u200bguilty on September 26 of orchestrating a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/australia-probes-kremlin-centered-money-laundering-scheme\/\" title=\"Australia probes Kremlin-centered money laundering scheme\">money laundering scheme<\/a> that targeted older adults and other \u200dvictims. The scam involved convincing victims to \u2063purchase Target gift cards under false pretenses, supposedly to \u2064resolve various financial problems.<\/p>\n<p>The convicted individuals, \u200dBlade \u2062Bai, Bowen Hu, and\u200c Tairan\u200c Shi, were charged with conspiracy to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">commit money laundering<\/a>. Additionally, \u200dBai was found guilty of an additional charge of conspiring\u200c to commit money laundering while out \u2064on bond.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/hollywood-writers-strike-over-after-nearly-5-months-as-new-deal-reached-5499268?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Hollywood Writers\u2063 Strike Is Over After Nearly 5 Months as New Deal Reached<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/27\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/hollywood-writers-strike-over-after-nearly-5-months-as-new-deal-reached-5499268?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/4-suspects-arrested-in-connection-with-glendale-retail-burglaries-5499182?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>4 Suspects\u200c Arrested in \u2062Connection With \u200cGlendale\u200b Retail\u200c Burglaries<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/26\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/4-suspects-arrested-in-connection-with-glendale-retail-burglaries-5499182?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hu and Shi were immediately remanded \u2064into custody following the \u2063verdict, while Bai has been in custody \u2064since February 2022.<\/p>\n<p>During \u2063the trial, evidence revealed that the scammers, operating from\u200b overseas, deceived victims \u200cinto purchasing Target \u2064gift cards \u2063by posing as law enforcement\u200d officers or government \u200cemployees. They\u2062 claimed that the victims&#8217; identities had been stolen or\u2064 that warrants had \u2062been issued for their arrest, and that purchasing Target gift cards was the solution to these fabricated problems.<\/p>\n<p>Other victims fell prey\u2063 to \u2062tech support emails, falsely claiming to be\u200b from reputable companies, which alleged serious issues \u200cwith the victims&#8217; \u2063financial accounts\u200b that could only be resolved\u2063 through the purchase of Target gift cards.<\/p>\n<p>As a\u200b result of \u200bthese \u200bdeceitful tactics,\u2062 victims were coerced into buying Target gift\u200d cards, often in increments of\u2062 $500, and \u2062providing \u2062the card numbers \u2064and access codes to\u200b the \u2064scammers over\u2062 the phone.<\/p>\n<p>Bai,\u200b Hu, and Shi obtained over 5,000 gift \u2063cards from \u200da\u200d group in China known \u2063as the &#8220;Magic Lamp,&#8221; which sold gift card information through the \u2063messaging\u200b app WeChat.<\/p>\n<p>Using WeChat,\u200c the defendants coordinated the distribution of gift \u200ccards\u200d to &#8220;runners&#8221; who used them at Target\u200b stores in\u200c Los Angeles and\u200c Orange counties to buy consumer electronics, additional gift cards, and \u2064other items. This elaborate scheme aimed \u200dto conceal the fact that the gift cards were funded with fraudulent proceeds.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors\u2063 estimate that the\u2062 defendants \u200dlaundered more than $2.5\u2064 million \u200bin gift cards between June 2019 and November 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Bai, who\u2062 was \u200cinitially arrested in \u2064November \u20622020 and \u200creleased on bond,\u200c engaged in another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-waives-sanctions-on-iranian-oil-trade-as-doj-announces-charges-on-spy-network\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Waives Sanctions on Iranian Oil Trade As DOJ Announces Charges On Spy Network\">money laundering conspiracy<\/a> involving Target gift cards shortly \u2063after his release. \u2062He enlisted \u200ban associate to help him liquidate approximately $36,000 worth of gift cards, resulting\u200b in a deal where the cards were sold for around 90 cents \u200don the\u2064 dollar.<\/p>\n<p>In February 2022, Bai was arrested again\u2063 on a superseding indictment and has remained in federal custody since then.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Andr\u00e9\u200b Birotte\u200c Jr. has scheduled a sentencing hearing \u2062for \u200cJanuary 26, where Bai, Hu, and \u2063Shi could face up\u200b to 20 years in federal prison for each count of money laundering conspiracy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How did the scammers convince their victims that purchasing gift cards was the only way to resolve their \u2064issues and avoid legal consequences?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Had been compromised or that they owed taxes or fines, and\u2064 convinced them that purchasing the gift cards was the only way to resolve their issues and avoid legal consequences. \u200cThe scammers then\u200d instructed the victims \u2064to provide\u200c the gift card codes\u200d over the phone, allowing them to access the funds and launder\u2064 the money without leaving a trace.<\/p>\n<p>The money laundering scheme\u2064 targeted vulnerable individuals, \u2062particularly older \u2064adults who might be more easily deceived. The scammers took advantage of their trust in authority figures and their lack of familiarity \u200bwith technology to manipulate them into believing the false narratives and following their instructions.<\/p>\n<p>Over the course of \u200cthe investigation, law enforcement officials were able to trace the flow of funds and gather substantial evidence \u2063against the three individuals involved. They uncovered a complex network of financial transactions conducted both domestically and internationally, further highlighting \u2064the extent of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-drone-armies-step-up-attacks-on-us-as-nuclear-talks-languish-gop-lawmakers-say\/\" title=\"Iranian \u2018Drone Armies\u2019 Step Up Attacks on US as Nuclear Talks Languish, GOP Lawmakers Say\">money laundering operation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Money laundering is \u2064a serious crime that undermines\u200c the\u200b integrity of financial systems and enables the funding of \u2062illegal activities.\u2063 The conviction of these three individuals sends a strong message that such activities will not be tolerated, and law enforcement agencies \u2062are dedicated to protecting the public from these types of scams.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200b case also serves as a reminder to the public\u2063 to be cautious and\u2064 vigilant when dealing with requests\u200d for money \u200bor personal information, especially when it comes from unexpected sources or involves unusual payment methods. It is crucial to verify the identity and legitimacy of\u200b individuals claiming to be\u2064 law\u200b enforcement officers or government employees, and \u200bto never provide\u200b sensitive\u200b information \u200cor \u2062make financial transactions based solely on a \u200bphone call or email.<\/p>\n<p>This successful prosecution would not have been\u2062 possible without the collaboration and \u2064dedication of law enforcement agencies,\u200b both domestic and international, as well as the\u200d cooperation of the victims who came forward to provide crucial information. It serves as an example of the\u2063 importance of reporting suspicious activities and \u200bworking together to combat fraud and financial\u200b crimes.<\/p>\n<p>As the impact \u200cof financial scams continues to grow, it\u2063 is crucial for individuals, communities, \u200cand organizations \u200cto stay informed and educated about the latest tactics used\u2064 by fraudsters. By raising awareness \u2062and\u2064 taking\u2062 proactive measures, we can protect ourselves \u200cand others from falling victim to these schemes\u200c and contribute to a safer and more\u200d secure society.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion,\u200c the \u2063conviction of these three\u200b individuals involved in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trio-from-los-angeles-county-convicted-of-money-laundering-using-gift-cards\/\" title=\"Three individuals from Los Angeles County found guilty of money laundering through gift cards.\">money \u2064laundering scheme targeting older adults<\/a> and\u2062 other victims marks an important milestone in \u200dthe fight against financial crimes. It serves as a reminder of the \u200bneed for vigilance and caution when dealing with financial transactions and requests for personal information. By actively working together \u2062and reporting \u2064suspicious\u2063 activities, we can contribute to the prevention and prosecution of such crimes, making our communities safer for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three Los Angeles County residents were convicted on Sept. 26 for laundering money obtained through scams targeting older adults. The scheme involved tricking victims into purchasing Target gift cards to supposedly solve financial issues. Blade Bai, 35, from El Monte, was found guilty after a 10-day trial.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":2047291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2047290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2047290"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047290\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2047291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2047290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2047290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2047290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}