【环球时报综合报道】如果你看过莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥与汤姆·汉克斯主演的知名好莱坞电影《猫鼠游 戏》，应当对以下情节并不陌生：一个骗子冒充飞行员，免费坐飞机旅行。如今，这部电影在现实 中"出了续集"。 据美国《纽约时报》、英国广播公司（BBC）等媒体22日报道，美国联邦检察官20日以电信欺诈罪对33 岁的加拿大男子达拉斯·波科尼克提起诉讼，指控他冒充飞行员和空乘人员，成功骗取三家美国航空公 司的数百次免费飞行。报道称，检察官认为波科尼克在2020年1月至2024年10月期间涉嫌存在不当行 为。波科尼克已在巴拿马被捕，并被引渡到美国。BBC报道称，波科尼克在20日的提审中对指控表示不 认罪，法官已下令将其拘留。美国司法部表示，如果被定罪，他将面临最高20年监禁和最高25万美元罚 款。 《纽约时报》披露的起诉书显示，波科尼克利用伪造的一家加拿大航空公司员工证件获得免费机票。据 报道，许多商业航空公司都会在机上有空位的情况下，为飞行员和机组人员提供免费旅行。法庭文件 称，波科尼克曾于2017年至2019年间在多伦多一家航空公司担任空乘，但在涉嫌欺诈发生时他并未受雇 于任何航司。 波科尼克甚至可能像迪卡普里奥在电影中的 ...

Core Viewpoint - A 54-year-old man from Washington County, Utah, Brian Garry Sewell, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release for committing telecom fraud that resulted in over $2.9 million in losses to investors [1] Group 1: Fraud Details - Sewell pleaded guilty to telecom fraud, deceiving at least 17 investors from December 2017 to April 2024 [1] - He operated an unlicensed money transmission business, Rockwell Capital Management, converting over $5.4 million in cash to cryptocurrency between March and September 2020 [1] - The fraudulent activities included servicing scammers and drug traffickers [1] Group 2: Financial Penalties - The court ordered Sewell to pay $3.605 million in restitution to victims, including investors, mortgage lenders, and credit unions [1] - Additionally, he is required to pay $217,700 to the Department of Homeland Security [1]

Core Viewpoint - The founder and chairman of Prince Group, Chen Zhi, has been arrested in Cambodia and sent back to China for investigation regarding serious criminal charges including telecommunications fraud and money laundering [1][3]. Group 1: Criminal Activities - Chen Zhi is accused of leading Asia's largest transnational crime organization, which has been involved in extensive telecommunications fraud and money laundering activities [5][15]. - The U.S. Department of Justice has seized approximately 127,271 bitcoins, valued at around $15 billion, marking the largest asset forfeiture in its history [3][4]. - The criminal network operated "phone farms" in Cambodia, controlling over 76,000 social media accounts used to perpetrate scams [7][11]. Group 2: Victimization and Exploitation - Hundreds of individuals were reportedly lured or trafficked to Cambodia, forced to work in scam operations under threats of violence and with their passports confiscated [12]. - The operation is described as a combination of modern slavery and high-tech fraud, with many perpetrators also being victims of trafficking and forced labor [12]. Group 3: Legal and Financial Consequences - The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned 146 individuals and entities associated with Prince Group, freezing their assets in the U.S. and prohibiting any transactions with American individuals or institutions [15][16]. - The U.K. has frozen 19 properties linked to Chen Zhi's network in London, valued at over £100 million, highlighting the international scope of the investigation [16]. - If convicted of conspiracy to commit telecommunications fraud and money laundering, Chen Zhi could face up to 40 years in prison [16].

Group 1 - The article discusses the criminal charges against Chen Zhi, founder of the Prince Group in Cambodia, for telecommunications fraud and money laundering, marking a significant action by the U.S. Department of Justice [4][5][30] - Approximately 127,271 bitcoins were seized, valued at around $15 billion, equivalent to approximately 106.9 billion yuan [4][5] - Chen Zhi is described as a key figure in Asia's largest transnational crime organization, having established businesses in over 30 countries to mask fraudulent activities [6][10] Group 2 - The criminal organization operated "phone farms" in Cambodia, utilizing 12,500 mobile phones and controlling 76,000 social media accounts for scamming purposes [12][14] - Victims were lured into investing in cryptocurrency schemes, only to have their funds stolen immediately after transfer [16] - Chen Zhi's operations included a "money laundering squad" in Brooklyn, with millions of dollars involved and at least 250 victims across the U.S. [17][18] Group 3 - The operation also involved severe human trafficking and forced labor, with hundreds of individuals being coerced into working in scam centers under threats and violence [20][21] - The U.S. Treasury identified Jin Bei Group Co. Ltd., linked to the Prince Group, as involved in extortion, fraud, and forced labor, with significant financial losses reported [23][25] - The U.S. government has frozen assets of 146 individuals and entities associated with the Prince Group, disrupting their financial operations in the U.S. [30][31] Group 4 - The U.K. has also taken action, freezing 19 properties owned by Chen Zhi in London, valued at over £100 million, highlighting the international response to his criminal activities [31][32] - Chen Zhi's network has expanded to the Pacific island of Palau, where suspicious developments related to resorts are being investigated [32]

Group 1 - The U.S. law enforcement has dismantled a large-scale "pig butchering" scam in Cambodia, seizing 127,271 bitcoins valued at approximately $15 billion, marking the largest asset forfeiture in U.S. history [1] - The indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn accuses 37-year-old Chen "Vincent" Zhi and others of conspiracy to commit telecom fraud and money laundering, with Zhi currently believed to be at large in Cambodia [1] - Zhi's Prince Holding Group operates 10 scam centers across Cambodia and has reportedly evolved into one of Asia's largest transnational criminal organizations, leading to sanctions from the U.S. Treasury against Zhi and over 100 related individuals and entities [1]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Department of Justice has formally charged Chen Zhi, founder of the Cambodian Prince Group, with telecommunications fraud and money laundering, marking a significant crackdown on a major transnational crime organization [1][3]. Group 1: Criminal Activities - Chen Zhi, known as "Vincent," is accused of leading Asia's largest transnational crime organization, which has established companies in over 30 countries to disguise fraudulent activities [3]. - The organization operated "phone farms" in Cambodia, using 1,250 mobile phones and controlling 76,000 social media accounts to perpetrate scams [3][5]. - Victims were lured into cryptocurrency scams, resulting in millions of dollars being stolen, with at least 250 individuals falling victim to these schemes in the U.S. alone [7]. Group 2: Money Laundering and Expenditure - Chen Zhi employed complex methods to launder money, splitting funds into smaller amounts to evade regulatory scrutiny, and then lavishly spent the proceeds on luxury items, including private jets and artwork [7][8]. - The U.S. Department of Justice seized approximately 127,271 bitcoins, valued at around $15 billion, in what is described as the largest asset forfeiture in the department's history [1]. Group 3: Human Trafficking and Forced Labor - The criminal network is implicated in severe human trafficking and forced labor, with hundreds of individuals reportedly coerced into working in scam operations under threats and violence [8]. - The U.S. Treasury Department has linked the Prince Group to various illegal activities, including extortion and forced labor, with connections to a specific group involved in the murder of a Chinese citizen [10]. Group 4: Legal Actions and International Response - The U.S. has frozen the assets of 146 individuals and entities associated with the Prince Group, effectively cutting off their financial resources in the U.S. [13]. - The U.K. has also taken action by freezing 19 properties owned by Chen Zhi in London, valued at over £100 million, highlighting the international effort to combat these crimes [14].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant legal actions taken by the U.S. Department of Justice against Chen Zhi, the founder of the Prince Group in Cambodia, for telecommunications fraud and money laundering, highlighting the scale of the operation and its implications for global crime networks [2][22]. Group 1: Criminal Activities - Chen Zhi is accused of leading Asia's largest transnational crime organization, using a facade of legitimate business operations to cover up extensive fraud activities [6][7]. - The operation involved "phone farms" with 1,250 mobile devices and 76,000 social media accounts used to perpetrate scams, targeting victims through emotional manipulation [9][12]. - The criminal network is described as a combination of modern slavery and high-tech fraud, with hundreds of individuals reportedly trafficked and forced into labor within scam operations [16][18]. Group 2: Financial Implications - The U.S. authorities seized approximately 127,271 bitcoins, valued at around $15 billion, marking the largest asset forfeiture in the department's history [2][22]. - The financial operations included sophisticated money laundering techniques, with millions of dollars funneled through various accounts to evade detection [15][21]. - The U.S. Treasury reported that losses from online investment scams have exceeded $16.6 billion in recent years, with a projected $10 billion loss in 2024 alone, indicating a 66% increase from the previous year [26]. Group 3: Legal Actions and Consequences - The U.S. government has frozen the assets of 146 individuals and entities associated with the Prince Group, effectively cutting off their financial resources in the U.S. [25][26]. - Chen Zhi faces potential charges that could lead to a maximum sentence of 40 years if convicted of telecommunications fraud and money laundering [28]. - The U.K. has also taken action by freezing 19 properties owned by Chen Zhi in London, valued at over £10 million, reflecting international cooperation in combating such crimes [26][27].

Core Points - The U.S. Department of Justice has formally charged Chen Zhi, founder of the Prince Group in Cambodia, with telecommunications fraud and money laundering, marking a significant crackdown on international crime [1][2] - The operation involved the seizure of approximately 127,271 bitcoins, valued at around $15 billion, making it the largest asset forfeiture in the department's history [1][2] Group 1: Criminal Activities - Chen Zhi, a dual citizen of the UK and Cambodia, was previously seen as a legitimate businessman but is now identified as a key figure in Asia's largest transnational crime organization [3][4] - The Prince Group has established companies in over 30 countries, which were used as fronts to conceal fraudulent activities [4] - The criminal network operated "phone farms" in Cambodia, utilizing 1250 mobile phones and controlling 76,000 social media accounts to perpetrate scams [5][6] Group 2: Victimization and Exploitation - Hundreds of individuals were reportedly lured or trafficked to Cambodia, forced to participate in cryptocurrency scams under threats of violence and coercion [10][11] - The operation is described as a combination of modern slavery and high-tech fraud, with many perpetrators also being victims of trafficking and forced labor [10][11] Group 3: Legal and Financial Consequences - The U.S. Treasury has frozen all assets and interests of individuals and entities associated with the Prince Group within the U.S., affecting 146 individuals and entities [13][14] - The U.S. has reported losses exceeding $16.6 billion due to online investment fraud in recent years, with an estimated $10 billion loss expected in 2024 alone, a 66% increase from the previous year [14] - The UK has also frozen 19 properties linked to Chen Zhi in London, valued at over £100 million, highlighting the international scope of the crackdown [15]