非法集资244.19亿余元！周志峰一审被判无期徒刑

Core Viewpoint - The court has sentenced individuals involved in a large-scale illegal fundraising scheme, highlighting the severe consequences of financial fraud and the importance of regulatory oversight in the financial sector [1][2]. Group 1: Case Details - The Dalian Intermediate People's Court sentenced Zhou Zhifeng to life imprisonment for fraud and money laundering, while Wang Changdong and Lu Hong received 16 and 14 years respectively, along with fines [1]. - The defendants operated under the name "Shanhai Group," falsely claiming substantial assets and annual revenues of several hundred million yuan to attract investments [1]. - From September 1, 2015, to August 11, 2023, the scheme defrauded participants of over 24.419 billion yuan [1]. Group 2: Impact and Consequences - The illegal fundraising activities severely disrupted the national financial management order, resulting in significant financial losses for participants across multiple regions [1]. - Following the verdict, law enforcement agencies initiated asset recovery efforts, targeting funds, stocks, properties, and vehicles linked to the case [2]. - The recovered assets will be returned to the defrauded participants after the judgment becomes effective [2].