Topline: Daren Li fled the United States after admitting he conspired to launder millions in illicit funds tied to cryptocurrency scams and Southeast Asia.
Published: April 25, 2026 8:00 am ET
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Daren Li (via U.S. Department of State)
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of State announced a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest of a Chinese national convicted of laundering tens of millions of dollars for Southeast Asian scam centers.
Daren Li was sentenced on money laundering charges in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California but remains at large. The reward is offered through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
According to a press release on April 23 by the U.S. Department of State, Li is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China and St. Kitts and Nevis. He previously resided in China, Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates, according to court documents.
Federal authorities said Li conspired with others to launder funds stolen from victims through cryptocurrency scams and related fraud. These scam centers rely on money launderers to move proceeds from U.S. victims using cryptocurrency to bypass anti-money laundering regulations.
Li instructed co-conspirators to open U.S. bank accounts in the names of shell companies, according to court records. He monitored the receipt and transfer of victim funds through interstate and international wire transactions.
Li admitted that at least $73.6 million in victim funds were deposited into bank accounts linked to him and his associates. This total included $59.8 million from U.S. shell companies used to process the stolen money.
The reward offer is part of a coordinated federal effort to dismantle international fraud networks. The Department of Justice recently announced charges against two Chinese nationals accused of running a scam compound in Burma and attempting to open another in Cambodia.
Federal agents also seized a Telegram messaging app channel. Investigators said the channel was used to recruit human trafficking victims to work in a Cambodian scam compound.
Authorities also seized 503 fraudulent web domains. These websites were used to carry out cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, according to the Department of Justice.
The Department of the Treasury announced concurrent sanctions against Kok An, a Cambodian senator. Officials said An controls scam compounds throughout Cambodia.
The sanctions also targeted 28 individuals and entities within An’s network. Federal officials said these actions aim to disrupt the financial infrastructure supporting organized crime in the region.
The State Department’s reward program is intended to assist in the apprehension of individuals who threaten U.S. national security.
If you have information regarding Li’s whereabouts please contact the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) by email at MostWanted@usss.dhs.gov. If you are located outside of the United States, you may also contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are in the United States, you may also contact the local USSS office in your city.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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U.S. Posts $4 Million Reward for Chinese Scam Money Launderer
Daren Li fled the United States after admitting he conspired to launder millions in illicit funds tied to cryptocurrency scams and Southeast Asia.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 25, 2026 8:00 am ET
Daren Li (via U.S. Department of State)
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of State announced a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest of a Chinese national convicted of laundering tens of millions of dollars for Southeast Asian scam centers.
Daren Li was sentenced on money laundering charges in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California but remains at large. The reward is offered through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
According to a press release on April 23 by the U.S. Department of State, Li is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China and St. Kitts and Nevis. He previously resided in China, Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates, according to court documents.
Federal authorities said Li conspired with others to launder funds stolen from victims through cryptocurrency scams and related fraud. These scam centers rely on money launderers to move proceeds from U.S. victims using cryptocurrency to bypass anti-money laundering regulations.
Li instructed co-conspirators to open U.S. bank accounts in the names of shell companies, according to court records. He monitored the receipt and transfer of victim funds through interstate and international wire transactions.
Li admitted that at least $73.6 million in victim funds were deposited into bank accounts linked to him and his associates. This total included $59.8 million from U.S. shell companies used to process the stolen money.
The reward offer is part of a coordinated federal effort to dismantle international fraud networks. The Department of Justice recently announced charges against two Chinese nationals accused of running a scam compound in Burma and attempting to open another in Cambodia.
Federal agents also seized a Telegram messaging app channel. Investigators said the channel was used to recruit human trafficking victims to work in a Cambodian scam compound.
Authorities also seized 503 fraudulent web domains. These websites were used to carry out cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, according to the Department of Justice.
The Department of the Treasury announced concurrent sanctions against Kok An, a Cambodian senator. Officials said An controls scam compounds throughout Cambodia.
The sanctions also targeted 28 individuals and entities within An’s network. Federal officials said these actions aim to disrupt the financial infrastructure supporting organized crime in the region.
The State Department’s reward program is intended to assist in the apprehension of individuals who threaten U.S. national security.
If you have information regarding Li’s whereabouts please contact the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) by email at MostWanted@usss.dhs.gov. If you are located outside of the United States, you may also contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are in the United States, you may also contact the local USSS office in your city.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
U.S. Posts $4 Million Reward for Chinese Scam Money Launderer
Daren Li fled the United States after admitting he conspired to launder millions in illicit funds tied to cryptocurrency scams and Southeast Asia.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 25, 2026 8:00 am ET
Daren Li (via U.S. Department of State)
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of State announced a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest of a Chinese national convicted of laundering tens of millions of dollars for Southeast Asian scam centers.
Daren Li was sentenced on money laundering charges in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California but remains at large. The reward is offered through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
According to a press release on April 23 by the U.S. Department of State, Li is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China and St. Kitts and Nevis. He previously resided in China, Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates, according to court documents.
Federal authorities said Li conspired with others to launder funds stolen from victims through cryptocurrency scams and related fraud. These scam centers rely on money launderers to move proceeds from U.S. victims using cryptocurrency to bypass anti-money laundering regulations.
Li instructed co-conspirators to open U.S. bank accounts in the names of shell companies, according to court records. He monitored the receipt and transfer of victim funds through interstate and international wire transactions.
Li admitted that at least $73.6 million in victim funds were deposited into bank accounts linked to him and his associates. This total included $59.8 million from U.S. shell companies used to process the stolen money.
The reward offer is part of a coordinated federal effort to dismantle international fraud networks. The Department of Justice recently announced charges against two Chinese nationals accused of running a scam compound in Burma and attempting to open another in Cambodia.
Federal agents also seized a Telegram messaging app channel. Investigators said the channel was used to recruit human trafficking victims to work in a Cambodian scam compound.
Authorities also seized 503 fraudulent web domains. These websites were used to carry out cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, according to the Department of Justice.
The Department of the Treasury announced concurrent sanctions against Kok An, a Cambodian senator. Officials said An controls scam compounds throughout Cambodia.
The sanctions also targeted 28 individuals and entities within An’s network. Federal officials said these actions aim to disrupt the financial infrastructure supporting organized crime in the region.
The State Department’s reward program is intended to assist in the apprehension of individuals who threaten U.S. national security.
If you have information regarding Li’s whereabouts please contact the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) by email at MostWanted@usss.dhs.gov. If you are located outside of the United States, you may also contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are in the United States, you may also contact the local USSS office in your city.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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