A Los Angeles, California, man made his initial appearance Wednesday before United States Magistrate Judge Maximiliano D. Couvillier, III, in Las Vegas, Nevada, for his alleged role in a transnational financial fraud organisation to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, Xui Jie Chen, also known as “Johnny Chen,” 32, and co-conspirators Jin Wei Chen, 41, of Flushing, New York, and Yue Yuan, 34, of China, obtained more than 5,000 genuine drivers’ licenses belonging to United States citizens residing in New York, Texas, and other states.
Jin Wei Chen, Johnny Chen, and Yue Yuan engaged co-conspirators to use those licenses to withdraw or attempt to withdraw funds from banks and obtain financing for luxury cars under false pretences.
The criminal scheme touched at least 14 states, including Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Minnesota.
In addition to the Bank Fraud conspiracy, each defendant is charged in multiple counts of aggravated identity theft related to using and causing to be used the fraudulently obtained licenses belonging to United States-based victims of the Bank Fraud conspiracy.
A jury trial is set for July 14, 2025, before United States District Judge James C. Mahan.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, which would run consecutive to any sentence imposed by the Court for the bank fraud conspiracy.
