WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced a significant crackdown on Southeast Asian scam centers, revealing charges against two Chinese nationals, the seizure of a Telegram channel used for human trafficking, and the restraint of over $700 million in cryptocurrency. The comprehensive operation targets sophisticated criminal organizations operating in countries like Cambodia and Burma, which have defrauded Americans of billions of dollars through forced labor and elaborate online schemes. The actions stem from the U.S. government's Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025.
A key component of the enforcement effort involved obtaining a seizure warrant to shut down a Telegram channel with over 6,000 followers. This channel was actively "luring workers into a forced compound in Cambodia" with false promises of high-paying jobs, as stated by Pirro. Once recruited, these individuals were held against their will and compelled to engage in fraudulent activities, including impersonating U.S. bank representatives and NYPD detectives to steal Americans' life savings.
The Department of Justice also unsealed criminal charges against two Chinese nationals, Huang Xingshan and Jiang Wen Jie, for wire fraud conspiracy. These individuals allegedly managed a cryptocurrency investment fraud compound in Burma, where trafficked workers were subjected to violence and forced to defraud victims. After authorities seized the Burma compound, Huang and Jiang reportedly attempted to continue their operations in Cambodia before their arrest in Thailand.
In addition to the charges and the Telegram channel seizure, the Strike Force announced the takedown of more than 500 fake investment websites used in these schemes. The combined efforts have led to the restraint of over $700 million in cryptocurrency, identified as proceeds from money laundering tied to these scams. This financial recovery is part of an ongoing initiative to return stolen funds to victims, many of whom have lost life savings.
The multi-agency Scam Center Strike Force, comprising the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service, also received support from the Treasury Department, which announced sanctions against Cambodian Senator Kok An and other associates for their involvement in these forced labor scam operations. These coordinated actions underscore a whole-of-government approach to combating cybercrime and human trafficking emanating from Southeast Asia.
