Jeanine Pirro Delivers Twin Criminal Takedowns
- Rex Ballard
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
U.S. Attorney Cracks Down on Billion-Dollar Southeast Asian Scam Empire and D.C. International Car Theft Ring
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fresh off back-to-back announcements, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is sending a loud message: transnational criminals preying on Americans are no longer operating with impunity.
On April 23, Pirro and the Scam Center Strike Force unveiled charges against two Chinese bosses running brutal fraud compounds in Burma (Myanmar) and Cambodia, where trafficked workers were allegedly beaten and forced to steal billions through crypto scams. The day before, on April 22, she unsealed a 15-count indictment dismantling a sophisticated D.C.-area auto theft ring that used high-tech gadgets to swipe cars in under a minute and ship them to Africa.
Scam Center Strike Force Strikes Hard Against Human-Trafficking Fraud Networks
The April 23 announcement marks a major escalation in the Strike Force’s fight, launched by Pirro in November 2025. Two Chinese nationals — Huang Xingshan (aka “Ah Zhe”) and Jiang Wen Jie — face wire fraud conspiracy charges for allegedly managing operations at the Shunda compound in Burma. Thousands of victims were trafficked there, enslaved, tortured, and coerced into running “pig butchering” cryptocurrency investment scams that targeted Americans.
Scammers posed as bank reps, NYPD officers, or court officials via WhatsApp and Teams, draining life savings. One subordinate alone allegedly stole over $3 million from a single U.S. victim.
Key wins include:
Seizure of 503 scam websites (victims now see FBI seizure notices).
Takedown of a Telegram channel with 6,000+ followers that trafficked forced laborers.
Restraint of more than $701 million in cryptocurrency.
Pirro called it part of a “generational wealth transfer” enabled by Chinese transnational crime groups. The Strike Force, working with the FBI, Secret Service, and international partners, continues to freeze assets for victim restitution.
D.C. Auto Theft Ring Busted: No Keys, No Windows — Just a 60-Second Hack
The previous day’s announcement targeted a different threat closer to home. A federal indictment charges six suspects in a conspiracy that stole dozens of vehicles — mostly Hondas and Acuras — from the D.C. metro area and Pennsylvania.
Thieves allegedly used portable OBD-II devices (like Autel tools) to reprogram car computers in under a minute, no hot-wiring required. Vehicles were hidden, VINs altered, and shipped in containers labeled “furniture” to buyers in Ghana and beyond. The ring is linked to over 100 stolen cars in the region.
Charged: Jacob Hernandez (29, Los Angeles), Dustin Wetzel (23, Woodbridge, VA), James Young (23, Hyattsville, MD), Khobe David (24, Upper Marlboro, MD), Chance Clark (25, Waldorf, MD), and one fugitive.
Both operations highlight Pirro’s aggressive “whole-of-government” strategy under President Trump’s Executive Order on cybercrime and fraud. Investigations remain active, with more forfeitures and arrests expected.
“These criminals don’t care who you are,” Pirro has repeatedly stated. “We’re here to fight like hell to get Americans’ money and safety back.”
Shasta Unfiltered will continue tracking these cases as they develop. If you’ve been a victim of these scams or thefts, contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) immediately.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Justice – Scam Center Strike Force Press Release (April 23, 2026): https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/scam-center-strike-force-takes-major-actions-against-southeast-asian-scam-centers-targeting
U.S. Attorney’s Office D.C. – International Car Theft Ring Indictment (April 22, 2026): https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/international-car-theft-ring-busted
Additional reporting: Washington Post, The National Desk
