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Chinese billionaire pleads guilty to straw donor scheme in New York and Rhode Island – The Boston Globe
When asked, an attorney for Adams, Vito Pitta, said: âAs the federal government made clear today, the campaign had no knowledge of a straw donor scheme â and no member of the campaign has been charged with or accused of any wrongdoing.”
Qin was previously included on the Forbes list of billionaires, with an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion from his stake in film and entertainment companies, including the Honk Kong-based SMI Culture. He has been in U.S. custody since his arrest last October on charges of using a fake identification.
A phone call to his attorney was not immediately returned.
Campaign finance records show Qin, who is a Chinese citizen with a U.S. green card, donated $2,000 to Adams in March of 2021. Under the cityâs campaign finance rules, green card-holders can contribute to races and participate in the cityâs generous matching funds program, which caps donations at $2,100.
Nine months after he donated to Adams, federal prosecutors say Qin began working âto find individuals to make more than $10,000 in straw donor contributionsâ to an unnamed New York City candidate.
At least one person donated $1,000 on Qinâs behalf on Dec. 9, according to prosecutors. The following day, Qin spoke with an unnamed co-conspirator, who told him they expected to be able to obtain up to $20,000 in straw donor contributions for the candidate.
Adams, a Democrat, is currently facing a federal investigation for his fundraising practices that prompted the FBI to seize his cell phones last year. Earlier this month, agents raided the homes of one of his top aides, Winnie Greco, as part of an investigation led by the U.S. Attorneyâs Office in Brooklyn.
An investigation by Manhattan prosecutors into an alleged straw donor scheme over the summer resulted in the arrest of six people, who were accused of seeking to divert public money into Adamsâ campaign to gain political favors.
Prosecutors say Qin engaged in similar straw donor schemes to funnel donations to a U.S. representative in New York and a congressional candidate in Rhode Island.
Federal Elections Commission records show Qin donated $2,900 in 2022 to the campaign of Allan Fung, a Republican former mayor who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Rhode Island. Fung didnât respond to messages seeking comment Monday.
Records also show that a man named Jonathan Chau, who provided Adamsâ transition committee with $1,000 on December 9, 2021, gave $5,800 to a committee supporting Fung, and $2,900 to a committee backing Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Long Island Republican.
Prosecutors said Qin hid his illicit funding efforts from the officials they were intended to benefit, causing them to unknowingly file false campaign reports.
Chau could not be reached for comment. Garbarino did not respond to an emailed request.
As part of the plea deal, Qin also admitted that he filed a false application for lawful permanent residency status in the U.S. 2019 when he claimed to have never used an alias. In fact, prosecutors said, he was provided the alias âMuk Lam Li,â along with accompanying identification documents, by an official in the Chinese government in 2008.
He used that identity to transfer more than $5 million to a U.S. bank account, spending some of it on a luxury apartment in Manhattan, according to prosecutors.
Qin will give up his right to live in the U.S. and be deported as part of his plea deal, prosecutors said.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents have been charged after a report of a naked woman at a department store.
According to police, on Tuesday, at just before 7:30 p.m., the Milford Public Safety Communications Center received a call from an employee of Target, located at 250 Fortune Boulevard in Milford, reporting an intoxicated and nude female inside the store. During the call, the employee stated the female had put her clothes back on and exited the store on foot, with blood visible on her clothing.
Upon arrival, officers began checking the area for the female before locating a red Subaru Forester occupied by a male operator and two female passengers, one of whom matched the suspect description provided by store employees, in the nearby vacant Best Buy parking lot.
Officers identified the occupants of the vehicle as Benjamin Mahler, 50, of Uxbridge; Elizabeth McCusker, 36, of Franklin; and Alisha Chmiel, 32, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
During the interaction, police officers discovered the vehicle and its occupants possessed crack cocaine and fentanyl.
Alisha Chmiel was charged with Possession of a Class A Substance (Fentanyl) Obstruction of Justice, and Five Active Warrants for Arrest. She is being held on $1,000 cash bail.
Benjamin Mahler was charged with Possession of a Class B Substance (Crack Cocaine) and was released on personal recognizance.
Elizabeth McCusker was charged with Possession of a Class A Substance (Fentanyl) and Disturbing the Peace. She was issued a summons and has not yet been arraigned.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — Heading into Saturday, Rhode Island needed three points to have a fighting chance at advancing to the USL Cup knockout stage.
Unfortunately, they only got two.
After the game finished tied after 90 minutes, goalkeeper Koke Vegas sealed the extra point for the Ocean State club with the game-winning kick in penalty kicks.
With the result, Rhode Island was eliminated from the USL Cup after finishing third in Group 5.
“I knew that we didn’t have any chance to to go to the next round,” Vegas said. “But for me it was very important, saying everybody happy home.”
RIFC return home next Saturday for the third edition of “El Clamico” this season when they host Hartford Athletic.
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WARWICK, RI — RI State Police Warwick arrests in the area July 4 – 11 in the RI Trooper Log included charges for DUI and threatening public officials.
Here are the basics on those RI State Police RI Trooper Log Warwick arrests:
RI Trooper Warwick Arrests July 4 – 11
Erratic Driver Reports, DUI On Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 10:03 p.m., troopers arrested Adrian King, 58, 78 Potters Avenue, Rhode Island, for 1.) Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor and/or Drugs – B.A.C .15 or Greater – Second Offense (Phase I: 0.292, Phase II: 0.272). This arrest was the result of multiple calls to the Barracks reporting an erratic operator, and Troopers locating the vehicle on East Avenue in the City of Warwick.
The subject was transported to the State Police Wickford Barracks, where he was processed, arraigned by a Justice of the Peace, and released with a notice to appear in Third District Court.
Stolen Vehicle On July 5 members of the Auto Theft Task Force arrested David O’Donnell, age 37, of 112 Harrington Ave., Warwick, Rhode Island, for 1) Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle; 2) Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle; 3) Conspiracy to Possess a Stolen Motor Vehicle; 4) Conspiracy to Commit a Crime Out of State.
O’Donnell was transported to the Wickford Barracks where he was processed then turned over to the Adult Correctional Institution Intake Center pending arraignment at Second Division District Court.
Threatening Public Official On Wednesday, July 8, at 9:27 p.m., troopers arrested Christopher Brum, 27, of 43 Junction St., Warwick, Rhode Island, on an Affidavit and Arrest Warrant for 1.) Threats to Public Officials and 2.) Disorderly Conduct originating out of the Rhode Island State Police Scituate Barracks.
This arrest was the result of a barracks investigation by Trooper Downing and Troopers locating Brum at his residence. Brum was processed at Rhode Island State Police Headquarters and held overnight pending arraignment at the Third Division District Court.
Driving without license On Friday, July 10 at 1:30 a.m., troopers arrested Victor Perez Escobar, 37 of 83 Judith Road, Newton, Massachusetts for 1.) Driving after Denial/Revocation/ Suspension – Certain Violations – First Offense. One of several Warwick arrests, this arrest was the result of a motor vehicle stop on Route 95 in the City of Warwick.
The subject was transported to the State Police – Wickford Barracks where he was processed and held overnight pending morning arraignment at Third District Court where he will be presented as a bail violator.
DUI, Centerville Road stop At 2:16 a.m. July 11, troopers arrested Calvin Hebert, 23, of 211 John Potter Road, West Greenwich, Rhode Island, for 1.) Driving Under the Influence of Liquor – BAC Unknown – First Offense and 2.) Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test – First Offense.
The arrest was the result of a motor vehicle stop on Centerville Road, in the City of Warwick. The subject was transported to the State Police – Wickford Barracks, where he was processed, arraigned by a Justice of the Peace, and released with a future Third Division District Court date.
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