Central Islip federal court handed down a hard-hitting sentence today against Hui Qin, the Chinese national and billionaire known for his Hong Kong-based entertainment empire SMI Culture. Qin, who has been variously named on Forbes’ list of billionaires, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack to seven months in prison and removal from the United States.
Qin, also known as ‘Qin Hui,’ ‘Hui Quin,’ ‘Muk Lam Li’ and ‘Karl,’ pleaded guilty in March 2024 to charges including making political contributions under the guise of others, immigration fraud, and producing a false identification document. He has been locked up since his arrest on October 2, 2023.
The charges stem from Qin’s illegal attempts to influence election campaigns by funneling $11,600 in donations through straw donors between December 2021 and December 2022. The campaign committees subsequently filed false reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, emphasized the severity of Qin’s actions: “Qin’s brazen flouting of our political and immigration systems, and his defrauding government agencies resulted in a felony conviction. No one is above the law.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge James Smith highlighted the importance of upholding election integrity: “Hui Qin violated our democratic norms by illegally attempting to influence election campaigns through fraudulent political donations. His unlawful actions and repeated efforts to exploit various government agencies were disrupted, and today’s sentence should deter future schemers.”
Thomas Fattorusso, IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge, highlighted the role of law enforcement partnerships: “Qin interfered with our election system and tried to gain advantage through his straw donations. It is through good police work that Qin was held accountable.” Ivan J. Arvelo, HSI New York Special Agent-in-Charge, concluded by emphasizing the collaboration between agencies: “HSI New York stands united with our partners against any individuals attempting to jeopardize our national security.”
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Immigration Law
- Source: Official Source ↗
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