An executive from the Epoch Times, a conservative media entity in New York, has been taken into custody for his purported role in a money laundering operation.

Weidong “Bill” Guan, the chief financial officer of the outlet, stands accused of engaging in a vast international scheme to cleanse at least $67 million of illegally acquired money for personal gain and to benefit the organization, as stated by the United States Department of Justice on Monday.

Under Guan’s leadership, the team labeled “Make Money Online” reportedly utilized cryptocurrency to convert millions in illicit funds, including fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits, which were placed on prepaid debit cards, according to the DOJ.

Company staff then allegedly employed stolen personal data to set up bank and cryptocurrency accounts used to transfer the illegal money, which was further routed through additional bank accounts owned by the Epoch Times and Guan, federal prosecutors elaborated.

Federal authorities clarified that these charges are unrelated to the Epoch Times’s journalistic activities.

US Attorney Damian Williams remarked, “When questioned by banks regarding the origins of the funds, Guan allegedly provided false narratives, claiming the money originated from legitimate donations to the media organization.”

He added, “Today's charges illustrate our continuous effort to stringently enforce laws against those who abet fraud via money laundering, safeguarding the US financial infrastructure.”

Guan, aged 61, of Secaucus, New Jersey, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and two instances of bank fraud.

The gravest charge could lead to a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Guan’s attorney, Ariel Werner, has not yet responded to an inquiry for comments.

Epoch Times issued a statement asserting its principle of maintaining integrity above all in its dealings.

“The company pledges to fully cooperate with any inquiry addressing the allegations against Mr. Guan,” the statement read.

“In the meantime, although Mr. Guan is innocent until proven guilty, the company has suspended him pending the resolution of this matter.”

Associated with the Falun Gong spiritual practice, Epoch Times was founded in 2000 to serve as a platform opposing the Chinese Communist Party.

Over recent years, the outlet has garnered attention for right-wing perspectives, including unsupported conspiracy theories.

Since 2016, the publication has been a strong proponent of former US President Donald Trump, notably through pro-Trump advertising on Facebook.