Man Sentenced to 9 Years, 8 Months for Organizing Mule Group for Investment Fraud Ring

(CNA, Changhua, May 21, by reporter Cheng Wei-chen) A man surnamed Chiang, learning that a man surnamed Sun, who controlled a fake investment fraud group from abroad, needed personnel for in-person cryptocurrency transactions in Taiwan, recruited members for a 'mule' group through a man surnamed Chou. The Changhua District Court sentenced Chiang and others to up to 9 years and 8 months in prison for violations including the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act. According to the Taiwan Changhua District Court's verdict, Sun, who is currently wanted, was responsible for coordinating with a Cambodian fraud boiler room and a money laundering operation. He jointly commanded the mules with the mule group to deliver funds to a collaborating cryptocurrency exchange for money laundering, thereby concealing criminal proceeds. In 2024, Chiang, a friend of Sun's, learned of Sun's need for domestic cryptocurrency transaction personnel and recruited mules through Chou and others. Chou partnered with a car dealership owner surnamed Chuang, who then found multiple people to act as mules. Some of these mules then recruited others, forming a multi-layered, specialized organization. Sun transferred the mules' payment in cryptocurrency to Chiang's digital wallet. Chiang then delivered the cash to Chou and others for distribution down the hierarchy. Besides recruiting mules himself, Sun also coordinated with accomplices to integrate money laundering operations and recruit personnel for them. Additionally, a woman surnamed Lin applied for a prepaid SIM card and linked it to a LINE account for use by the Cambodian boiler room. She subsequently went abroad to engage in phone scams and recruited others to go to Cambodia, posting fake dating ads on social media to perpetrate investment fraud. The Changhua District Court stated that the defendants, despite being capable of working, chose to engage in fraud for illegal gains. Their meticulous division of labor caused financial losses to victims, severely undermined social trust and financial transaction order, and consumed judicial resources in pursuing their crimes. The Changhua District Court found Chiang guilty of 25 offenses, including violating the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act and attempting to commit fraud by disseminating information to the public via the internet as part of a group of three or more people. He was sentenced to a total of 9 years and 8 months in prison. The other defendants received sentences ranging from 3 years and 8 months to 4 years and 8 months, with forfeiture of their criminal proceeds. The entire case can be appealed. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung)