Fugitive Guo Wengui sentenced to 30 years in US prison for fraud

Fugitive businessman Guo Wengui who fled China in 2015 has been sentenced to 30 years in US jail for running a billion dollar scam.

The ex-property developer has had close relations with former Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon, and pledged to fund protesters of Hong Kong's anti-extradition law amendment bill movement.

Guo Wengui, also known by names including Ho Wan Kwok and Miles Guo, was arrested in New York City three years ago for defrauding thousands of people of over 1 billion US dollars.

In 2024, the business tycoon once believed to be among China's richest men, was convicted by the jury on nine of the 12 criminal charges he faced, including racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud.

The 56-year-old appeared for his sentencing at Manhattan federal court on Monday.

Judge Analisa Torres said Guo had preyed on people who seek to "bring Democracy to China" to pay for his lavish lifestyle, and that he "takes no responsibility for his actions."

Prosecutors had requested Guo serve at least 30 years behind bars because his "astonishing" fraud from 2018 to 2023 "destroyed hundreds of lives" and left "a wreckage of victims and families."

The judge has imposed a forfeiture order on Guo of 889 million dollars in restitution.

Guo maintained his innocence, declaring he would appeal the ruling. He had protested his treatment in prison and said he was taken to hospital early Monday.

Before his arrest and detention, Guo was sought after by Beijing for bribery and money laundering and settled down in New York City in 2017. He lived in a luxury apartment overlooking Central Park and had joined President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Florida golf club.

Guo also developed close ties to conservative political strategist Steve Bannon who has repeatedly called for Guo's release.

In June 2019, the entrepreneur came to prominence in Hong Kong when he held a live broadcast with Baggio Leung Chung-hang, one of the leaders of the protest movement, in which he promised political and financial support for protesters.

When asked about Guo's sentencing during today's press conference, the foreign ministry in Beijing has this to say.

A spokesman says: "Guo Wengui is a fugitive wanted by InterPol Red Notice at the request of the Chinese government. We noted relevant reports."