A Chinese national, Zheng Zhao (44岁), has been extradited to the United States and appeared in a Los Angeles federal court on October 23. He is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, facing up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Prosecutors allege Zhao helped a criminal network launder $36.9 million stolen from 174 identified American victims through US shell companies, international bank accounts, and cryptocurrency wallets. Funds were traced from US bank accounts to a Deltec Bank account in the Bahamas, then converted into Tether's USDT stablecoin before being transferred to wallets in Cambodia. Prosecutors have not accused Tether or Deltec Bank of knowingly participating in the fraud. Zhao's extradition follows guilty pleas from eight other participants in the alleged laundering operation, with some already receiving prison sentences and restitution orders.