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U.S. Charges California Man in China-Linked Laundering of Mexican Cartel Drug Proceeds

Court filings cite a trade-based scheme using electronics shipments with mirror payments to move tens of millions from U.S. sales to Mexico.

Overview

  • Yan Lin, 41, was arrested in California and presented before Magistrate Stephanie Bowman on five money-laundering and concealment counts in the Southern District of Ohio.
  • An arraignment was scheduled following his Jan. 8 appearance, and he faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
  • Prosecutors allege the network collected U.S. cash from fentanyl, cocaine, and meth sales, purchased electronics, shipped them to Hong Kong and China, then arranged mirror payouts in Mexico.
  • A 2024 ledger filed in the case records approximately $27.4 million in cash deliveries tied to Lin’s contracts.
  • HSI, IRS-CI, DEA, FBI, and DOJ led the investigation, which continues to seek additional participants, and no operational actions in Mexico have been reported.