Two men have been sentenced in federal court in Boston for their roles in an international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. Yanbing Chen, 30, a Chinese national living unlawfully in Brooklyn, New York, received a sentence of 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2024, Chen pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving money laundering and distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Thong Nguyen, 31, from Everett, Massachusetts, was sentenced to four months in prison. His sentence also includes one year of home detention and two additional years of supervised release. Nguyen pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in August 2024.
Both men were among twelve individuals charged in May 2023 with participating in a complex international operation led by Jin Hua Zhang. According to the charging documents, law enforcement first detected Zhang’s group operating out of the greater Boston area as well as other locations across the United States and overseas beginning in 2021. The organization allegedly laundered at least $25 million worth of drug proceeds and funds from other illegal businesses within less than a year. Authorities traced these funds to accounts located in Hong Kong, China, India, Cambodia, Brazil, and other places.
In July 2022, Chen delivered $50,000 on behalf of Zhang to undercover agents for laundering purposes. Zhang’s organization converted these funds into Tether cryptocurrency before returning them to criminal organizations that used their services. Law enforcement seized cash and cryptocurrency linked to Zhang during the investigation.
Chen also delivered five kilograms of cocaine during two meetings with cooperating witnesses in Boston at Zhang’s direction between August and September 2022.
Nguyen’s involvement included laundering or attempting to launder over $213,000 from a marijuana trafficking group between March and April 2022. He provided these funds to Zhang’s operation which then converted them into Tether before sending them back to the original drug organization.
Jin Hua Zhang pleaded guilty in September 2023 and is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2025.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Quincy Police Department also provided valuable assistance to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.”
“The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
