Portland trio indicted in international money laundering

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Three Portland residents have been indicted in an international money laundering scheme involving Mexico and China, but they are believed to be out of the country.

KOIN-TV reports Shefeng Su, Xinhua Li Yan and Xiancong Su were living in Portland at the time the indictment covers, according to US Attorney for Oregon Billy J. Williams.

He says money laundering was used to cover up drug trafficking money and give Chinese nationals large sums to use in the United States.

Williams says the money launderers would transfer money between Chinese bank accounts — one held by the buyer and the other by the money launderer. When the Chinese currency was transferred between accounts, the money was sent back to Mexico — where it was converted into pesos for easier deposit in Mexican banks.

AP Only 2019