(NewsWorthy.news) – On March 18, a Chinese billionaire conceded to charges against him that pinned him as taking part in a straw donor plot involving more than $10,000.
56-year-old Qin Hui, who is a Chinese citizen that owns property in Manhattan and Old Westbury, New York, submitted his guilty plea on Monday in a Central Islip federal court. His confession revealed that he provided funds to others so they could contribute to political campaigns and candidates for him. He said he conducted this scheme between 2021 and 2022.
The individuals who received the illicit donations were not named in court documents, but prosecutors did reveal that they included a current New York member of the House of Representatives, a public official in New York City, and a Rhode Island congressional candidate.
Qin was first arrested in October 2023, from which point he remained in prison. In addition to confessing to the donation scheme, the billionaire also pleaded guilty to other charges, including immigration fraud and illegally crafting a driver’s license. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, up to $11,600 was contributed in the scheme.
More than a decade ago, Qin reportedly lied to immigration officials when coming to the United States, saying he had never used another name. However, records show that he has operated under an alias with different identification cards from China that used his same photo but different name and date of birth. It was under this alias that Qin purchased his residence in Manhattan.
The billionaire also lied when applying for a driver’s license in the state of Florida, saying that he lived in Miami at the time despite never having resided in that city.
Qin could be sentenced to up to 27 years in jail, according to prosecutors. He agreed in a plea deal to have his status as a legal, permanent resident in the United States revoked and leave the country once he has served his sentence.
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