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Ohio Man Charged with Laundering Tens of Millions in Drug Proceeds
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Yan Lin, 41, of California, appeared in federal court in Cincinnati on charges of conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars derived from drug trafficking proceeds. The indictment unsealed today states that between March 2022 and October 2024, Mexico-based drug traffickers hired Lin to return tens of millions of dollars in profits from the sale of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in cities throughout the United States to Mexico.
According to the indictment, Lin allegedly arranged for his co-conspirators to deliver bulk cash to others who bought electronics that were shipped to co-conspirators in Hong Kong, China, and elsewhere. After confirmation of receipt of the bulk cash, Mexico-based drug traffickers would receive their payment in Mexico, minus a commission, via a “mirror transaction.” One ledger, which recorded just a portion of Lin’s money contracts in 2024, totaled approximately $27.4 million in bulk cash delivered across the United States.
“As alleged in the indictment, the defendant laundered tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds from the United States through China, enabling a continuous flow of dangerous drugs into our country from Mexico,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva. “Dismantling Chinese money laundering networks that support drug trafficking organizations is critical to achieve the mission of total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations.”
Yan Lin is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and concealment money laundering, which is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Cincinnati Office, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Tulsa, and Atlanta offices, FBI Cincinnati, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Dornette for the Southern District of Ohio is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The indictment highlights the importance of targeting those who facilitate the movement of illicit proceeds in disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking operations. By working with law enforcement partners, the government will continue to investigate and prosecute those who enable the flow of deadly drugs into our communities.
Lin’s case is a prime example of the ongoing efforts to dismantle Chinese money laundering networks that support drug trafficking organizations. The government remains committed to protecting Americans from the harm caused by the illegal drug trade.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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