U.S. Attorney General Announces Action Against Southeast Asian Fraud Networks
The Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, along with Assistant Attorney General A. Theisen Duba from the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, has unveiled a new initiative targeting organized crime in Southeast Asia.
This initiative, part of the Fraud Center Strike Force, is implementing measures to dismantle offshore fraud operations that have swindled Americans out of billions.
The recent enforcement action led to the indictment of two Chinese nationals allegedly connected to a cryptocurrency fraud operation based in Burma that aimed to extend its reach into Cambodia.
Additional actions include the confiscation of 503 fraudulent investment websites and a Telegram channel that was reportedly used to attract victims for human trafficking schemes masquerading as law enforcement operations.
A. Theisen Duba remarked, “The Department’s Criminal Division is proud to partner with U.S. Attorney Pirro’s Office on this latest effort to disrupt foreign-based criminal networks exploiting vulnerable Americans. Scammers who think they’re out of reach are mistaken; we are committed to making sure they can’t operate freely, wherever they may be.”
FBI Director Kash Patel also shared updates regarding these coordinated efforts via social media, emphasizing the commitment to dismantling these criminal groups.
The Strike Force has pressed charges and issued arrest warrants for two individuals linked to cryptocurrency fraud at a facility in Minlepan known as Shunda.
Those charged include Huang Xingshan, also known as “Ah Zhe,” and Jiang Wen Jie, referred to as “Jiang Nan.” They face conspiracy charges for their management of the fraudulent operation, which was active from around January to November 2025 before being taken over by the Karen National Liberation Army in Burma.
Under their supervision, the operation created deceptive websites and mobile applications presenting themselves as legitimate investment platforms, duping victims globally, including in the U.S. Disturbingly, this scheme involved the exploitation of individuals, who were reportedly coerced into unethical behavior under threats of violence.
Pirro officially introduced the Fraud Center Strike Force in November 2025, aimed at countering the rising threat of fraud from Southeast Asia. In response to these issues, President Trump signed an Executive Order on March 6, 2026, prioritizing efforts against cybercrime and fraud that impact Americans’ financial security.
U.S. Attorney Pirro stated, “The Executive Order establishes a clear approach to combat cybercrime and cross-border fraud, integrating various governmental resources. The Fraud Center Strike Force has achieved significant milestones. Together, we are actively disrupting the transnational criminal networks behind these schemes.”
She added, “Today marks an important step forward. We have indicted individuals running fraudulent operations in Burma, where workers faced abuse and were forced to defraud Americans. We’ve also taken down over 500 fraudulent websites. We are now working on tracing and recovering the stolen funds, which have amounted to over $700, and there’s still a lot of work ahead.”
