Core Points - Qian Zhimin, a 47-year-old woman from Rugao, Jiangsu, was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison for orchestrating the largest cryptocurrency money laundering case in UK history, involving £5.5 billion (over 514 billion RMB) [1][7][21] Group 1: Case Overview - The case is recognized as the largest cryptocurrency money laundering operation in the UK, with a total amount involved exceeding £5.5 billion [7][21] - Qian was found guilty of defrauding 128,000 investors through a Ponzi scheme, raising over 40 billion RMB [8][20] - The UK police seized seven cryptocurrency wallets, setting a global record for asset confiscation [7] Group 2: Criminal Activities - Qian was the mastermind behind the laundering of 60,000 bitcoins, which were part of stolen investment funds [5][19] - She fled to the UK in 2017 with 194,951 bitcoins, including over 70,000 on her laptop [8][19] - The operation involved elaborate planning and assistance from multiple accomplices, including hiring staff to facilitate her luxurious lifestyle [8][15] Group 3: Legal Proceedings - The trial began on September 29, 2023, and Qian pleaded guilty, which shortened the expected 12-week trial [12][10] - The judge highlighted her greed and the unprecedented scale of the money laundering operation during sentencing [5][12] - Qian received a 10% reduction in her sentence for her guilty plea, resulting in a final sentence of 11 years and 8 months [12][21] Group 4: Impact on Victims - The fraudulent activities led to significant financial losses for thousands of investors, including many retirees [20][21] - Efforts are ongoing to recover lost funds for the victims, with Chinese authorities collaborating with UK law enforcement [19][21]