Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a twelve-count Indictment charging HO WAN KWOK, a/k/a “Miles Guo,” a/k/a “Miles Kwok,” a/k/a “Guo Wengui,” a/k/a “Brother Seven,” a/k/a “The Principal,” and KIN MING JE, a/k/a “William Je,” with various wire fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges.  JE, who is KWOK’s financier, is also charged with obstruction of justice.  The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged sprawling and complex scheme by the defendants, and others, to solicit investments in various entities and programs through false statements and representations to hundreds of thousands of KWOK’s online followers.  As alleged, KWOK and JE misappropriated hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained funds during the course of their conspiracy.  KWOK was arrested this morning in New York, New York, and will be presented this afternoon.  JE is currently at large. 

In addition, Mr. Williams announced that between September 2022 and March 2023, the U.S. Government seized approximately $634 million from 21 different bank accounts.  The $634 million constitutes proceeds of KWOK’s alleged fraud, which the Government will seek to forfeit.  Today, law enforcement also seized assets that were purchased with proceeds of KWOK’s alleged fraud, including a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roads.   

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Ho Wan Kwok, known to many as “Miles Guo,” led a complex conspiracy to defraud thousands of his online followers out of over $1 billion dollars.  Kwok is charged with lining his pockets with the money he stole, including buying himself, and his close relatives, a 50,000 square foot mansion, a $3.5 million Ferrari, and even two $36,000 mattresses, and financing a $37 million luxury yacht. 

As alleged, Kwok lied to his victims and promised them outsized returns if they invested, or provided money to, GTV, his so-called Himalaya Farm Alliance, G|CLUBS, and the Himalaya Exchange. 

Kwok is further charged with laundering hundreds of millions of stolen funds to conceal the conspiracy’s illegal activities and continue the fraud’s operations.  My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to do all that we can to protect the community from the devastating consequences of pernicious fraud schemes.  If you believe you are a victim of Kwok and Je’s fraud, please contact USANYS.GuoVictims@usdoj.gov or https://forms.fbi.gov/NY_GTV.  My Office and the FBI are here to help those who were harmed by this malicious fraud.”

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “The indictment today alleges the defendants were behind an elaborate scheme that defrauded thousands of individuals of over one billion dollars.  Fraudulent investment scams make victims out of innocent people, ultimately harming the public’s confidence in the integrity of financial systems.  The FBI continues to make investigating complex financial crimes a top priority, and anyone attempting these crimes will be made to face the consequences in the criminal justice system.”   

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court and court filings:[1]

From at least in or about 2018 through at least in or about March 2023, KWOK, JE, and others, conspired to defraud thousands of victims of more than approximately $1 billion.  KWOK was the leader of this complex conspiracy. 

KWOK is an exiled Chinese businessman who has resided in the United States since in or about 2015 and garnered a substantial online following.  In or about 2018, KWOK founded two purported nonprofit organizations, namely, the Rule of Law Foundation and the Rule of Law Society.  KWOK used the nonprofit organizations to amass followers who were aligned with his purported policy objectives in China and who were also inclined to believe KWOK’s statements regarding investment and money-making opportunities. 

JE is a dual citizen of Hong Kong and the United Kingdom who principally resided in the United Kingdom.  JE owned and operated numerous companies and investment vehicles central to the scheme and served as its financial architect and key money launderer.

KWOK and JE’s fraud relied on at least four interrelated parts:  the GTV Media Group, Inc. (“GTV”) Private Placement, the Farm Loan Program, G Club Operations, LLC (“G|CLUBS”), and the Himalaya Exchange. 

U.S. District Court
Southern District of New York (Foley Square)
CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:23-cr-00118-AT All Defendants