Two New York men who are Chinese Nationals have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and money laundering.
As alleged in the Indictment, 19 Defendants were charged with charges involving the theft of used cooking oil, which can be refined into biodiesel fuel and re-sold. Defendants drove trucks to restaurants and stole and attempted to steal used cooking oil from oil collection tanks located at restaurants throughout Iowa, Tennessee, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kentucky. Defendants then collected the stolen used cooking oil to warehouses throughout the United States including:
- Nevada and Ankeny, Iowa;
- Lewisburg, Tennessee;
- Dora, Alabama;
- Tipp City, Ohio;
- Decatur, Illinois
Defendants subsequently sold the stolen used cooking oil, which was transported across state lines, and proceeds were laundered.
On September 9, 2026, Tianzhu Chen, 33, of Flushing, New York, and a Chinese National, pleaded guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Money Laundering and Yong Chen, 33, of Brooklyn, New York and a Chinese National, pleaded guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy. Sentencing is set for January 29, 2027. Each offense carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Trial for the remainder of the defendants is scheduled to begin on April 12, 2027.