Epoch Times Accused of Money Laundering

[captancourgette]

I saw this today

Epoch Times CFO charged in $67m money-laundering plot

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg66xe59zyeo

As most people here know Epoch Times are One of the largest spreaders of Conspiracy theories, So of course they mention c40
https://www.theepochtimes.com/focus/c40
shocked face (Who would of thought its just a bunch of crooks) /s

 

[AlphaChrom]

Interesting if they invoked their right to appeal. Because it's shown here that their time is limited. Oh well, maybe they'll get what they deserve.

 

[FatPhil]

As most people here know Epoch Times are One of the largest spreaders of Conspiracy theories

What they push is broader than mere conspiracy theories:

Facebook has banned The Epoch Times, a conservative news outlet that spent more money on pro-Trump Facebook advertisements than any group other than the Trump campaign, from any future advertising on the platform.

-- https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-n...ing-its-connection-huge-pro-trump-ad-n1045416

 

[FatPhil]

Interesting if they invoked their right to appeal. Because it's shown here that their time is limited. Oh well, maybe they'll get what they deserve.

No mention of any appeal here: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68822863/united-states-v-guan/
The most recent updates regarding what's going to happen when (bold mine) seem to be:

Jun 21, 2024

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Victor Marrero: Status Conference as to Weidong Guan held on 6/21/2024. The Court held a criminal conference. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Dell present for the Government. Attorney Martin Cohen present for defendant Weidong Guan, who was present. Court reporter present. Mandarin interpreter present. The Court adjourned the matter until September 20, 2024 at 11 AM. Upon motion of the Government and no objection from Defendant, the Court excluded speedy trial time until September 20, 2024, under 18 U.S.C. Section 3161(h) (7)(B)(i) and (iv), to ensure effectiveness of counsel and to prevent any miscarriage of justice. The Court found that granting this continuance outweighs the best interests of the public and the Defendant in a speedy trial. The Court gave an oral Rule 5(f) order and advised the Government of its obligations under Brady v. Maryland, and the Government confirmed it understands those obligations. The Court set a trial date of March 10, 2025, with trial expected to last approximately one month. Finally, the Court granted defendant's request for an extension to July 1, 2024 of his time to finalize the co-signers to his bond. (Status Conference set for 9/20/2024 at 11:00 AM before Judge Victor Marrero.) (jbo)

...

25 Sep 17, 2024

ORDER as to Weidong Guan. Counsel for Defendant, with the consent of counsel for the Government, requests that the status conference currently scheduled for September 20, 2024 be adjourned. (See Dkt. No. 24.) The conference is hereby adjourned to December 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Counsel for Defendant advises that the Defendant consents to the exclusion of time under the Speedy Trial Act and that such an exclusion "is necessary to review discovery and consider possible motion practice." ( Id.) It is hereby ordered that time until December 6, 2024 shall be excluded from speedy trial calculations. This exclusion is designed to guarantee effectiveness of counsel and prevent any possible miscarriage of justice. The value of this exclusion outweighs the best interests of the Defendant and the public in a speedy trial. This order of exclusion of time is made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(i) & (iv). SO ORDERED. ( Status Conference set for 12/6/2024 at 02:00 PM before Judge Victor Marrero. )(Signed by Judge Victor Marrero on 9/17/2024) (bw)

 

[jdog]

I saw this today

Epoch Times CFO charged in $67m money-laundering plot

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg66xe59zyeo

As most people here know Epoch Times are One of the largest spreaders of Conspiracy theories, So of course they mention c40
https://www.theepochtimes.com/focus/c40
shocked face (Who would of thought its just a bunch of crooks) /s

Being a grifter compels you to have an anti-government stance. That's why those IRS crackdowns always seem to involve targeting "conservative" groups, who then use their purported persecution to rally support.

 

[Ann K]

In the runup to the 2020 election, a small news organization saw an opportunity.

The Epoch Times directed millions of dollars in advertising toward supporting President Donald Trump's campaign and published dozens of articles parroting his lies about the election — resulting in huge growth to its audience and its coffers.

The strategy garnered criticism from fact-checking groups and got it banned from advertising on Facebook, but it ultimately paid off — putting the once-fringe newspaper on a path that perhaps only its leader, who claims to have supernatural powers, could have foreseen.

Today, The Epoch Times is one of the country's most successful and influential conservative news organizations. It's powered by Falun Gong, a religious group persecuted in China, which launched The Epoch Times as a free propaganda newsletter more than two decades ago to oppose the Chinese Communist Party.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/epoch-times-falun-gong-growth-rcna111373

There is also an interesting paragraph in the group's description in Wikipedia, perhaps making Wikipedia itself a suspect source for information:

According to scholar James R. Lewis writing in 2018, Falun Gong adherents have attempted to control English Wikipedia articles covering the group and articles related to it. Lewis highlights Falun Gong's extensive internet presence, and how editors who have to date contributed to English Wikipedia entries associated with Falun Gong to the point where "Falun Gong followers and/or sympathizers de facto control the relevant pages on Wikipedia", and how this is particularly important for Falun Gong as an organization due to the search engine optimization results of these entries, and how the entries can influence other media entities. Lewis notes also how this fits in as part of Falun Gong's general media strategy, such as Falun Gong media like The Epoch Times, New Tang Dynasty, Sound of Hope Radio, and, as Lewis discusses, the Rachlin media group.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falun_Gong

This calls into question the group's stated tenet, as mentioned in that source:

Falun Gong doctrine counsels against participation in political or social issues.[93]​

...especially since the Epoch Times is so heavily involved in right-wing politics.