Li Pei Tan, 46, of Buford, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to launder tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds for international trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced.
In a related case, on Aug. 5, Chaojie Chen, 41, a Chinese national residing in Chicago, admitted to laundering millions linked to illegal drug imports for distribution across the United States, according to the DOJ.
Both Tan and Chen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and agreed to forfeit assets, including a residence, firearm, body armor, and over $270,000 in cash.
The DOJ noted that Tan and Chen were charged separately and accepted money judgments totaling over $23 million.
Tan, Chen, and their co-conspirators allegedly traveled nationwide, collecting proceeds from the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and other narcotics, the department states.
The DOJ stated they coordinated with associates in China and other countries, using complex financial transactions to conceal the funds’ origins.