Zhimin Qian, 47, deceived more than 128,000 people in China between 2014 and 2017. She stored the stolen wealth in Bitcoin after executing her large-scale fraud. Police confirmed she fled China using false documents before entering the UK. She then tried to launder the illicit cryptocurrency by purchasing property in late 2018.
UK Authorities Secure Record-Breaking Seizure
Officers seized 61,000 Bitcoins from Qian, valued at over £5.5 billion (€6.3 billion). A seven-year global money laundering investigation led to her guilty plea in London’s Southwark Crown Court. Police described the case as one of the UK’s largest money laundering prosecutions. They also identified it as one of the most valuable cryptocurrency-related criminal cases worldwide.
Convictions and Ongoing Legal Actions
Authorities previously convicted Jian Wen, 43, for assisting the Bitcoin fraud, and the court sentenced her to six years and eight months. Qian admitted illegally acquiring and holding cryptocurrency. Judges will deliver her sentence later. Prosecutors confirmed they will pursue criminal confiscation and civil actions to block fraudsters from accessing their stolen assets. They warned that organised criminals increasingly use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to hide and transfer illicit gains.
