In the period from 2017 to 2022, the accused helped legalize criminal funds of a certain Zhimin Qian, whom the prosecutor's office called a "supervillain" during the hearing.
According to the investigation, the fraudulent scheme organized in China caused damage to more than 130,000 investors.
During a raid on Wen and Jian's residence in 2018, police confiscated the first cryptocurrency worth more than $2.2 billion.
The defendant denied all charges. She did not know about the alleged fraud in China or that the money she traded was obtained by criminal means, her lawyer claims.
Jian arrived in the UK in September 2017 under an assumed name, Yadi Zhang, before fleeing in 2020 two days before being questioned by London police. After fleeing the country, her whereabouts are unknown.
Wen worked at a fast-food restaurant in east London before working with Jian. In a matter of weeks, she had gone from living in the basement of the establishment to a lavish lifestyle that included a six-bedroom house.
"We have succeeded in disrupting a complex economic crime operation, the scale of which demonstrates how international fraudsters are seeking to exploit cryptocurrencies," London Police said in a statement.
Jian was found guilty only of money laundering, but the authorities failed to prove her involvement in financial fraud. Probably, the accused faces only a large monetary fine.
According to the investigation, the fraudulent scheme organized in China caused damage to more than 130,000 investors.
During a raid on Wen and Jian's residence in 2018, police confiscated the first cryptocurrency worth more than $2.2 billion.
The defendant denied all charges. She did not know about the alleged fraud in China or that the money she traded was obtained by criminal means, her lawyer claims.
Jian arrived in the UK in September 2017 under an assumed name, Yadi Zhang, before fleeing in 2020 two days before being questioned by London police. After fleeing the country, her whereabouts are unknown.
Wen worked at a fast-food restaurant in east London before working with Jian. In a matter of weeks, she had gone from living in the basement of the establishment to a lavish lifestyle that included a six-bedroom house.
"We have succeeded in disrupting a complex economic crime operation, the scale of which demonstrates how international fraudsters are seeking to exploit cryptocurrencies," London Police said in a statement.
Jian was found guilty only of money laundering, but the authorities failed to prove her involvement in financial fraud. Probably, the accused faces only a large monetary fine.
