{"id":"court_sdny_662_0","court":"SDNY","case_no":"23-cr-00118","doc_number":662,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"PETITION","filed_date":null,"title":"| UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT<br>SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK","summary_zh":"第三方权益申请书 —— 美国诉 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo）案，SDNY 1:23-cr-00118 ECF #662（2025年4月6日提交）。申请人声称系 Himalaya Exchange 投资计划受害者，对被 DOJ 没收资产主张所有权权益，辩称其为善意购买人和无辜第三方，请求法院修改没收令以排除其财产。","summary_en":"Third-Party Interest Petition — United States v. Ho Wan Kwok (a/k/a Miles Guo, Guo Wengui), SDNY 1:23-cr-00118 ECF #662 (filed April 6, 2025). Petitioner claims to be a victim of the Himalaya Exchange investment scheme and asserts ownership interest in assets seized by the DOJ, arguing petitioner is a bona fide purchaser and innocent third party, and requesting that the court amend the forfeiture order to exclude petitioner's property.","body_en":"| UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT<br>SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK                                                                  |                                                                                                                         |\n|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x<br>:<br>UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<br>:                              |                                                                                                                         |\n| -v.-                                                                                                                           | VERIFIED PETITION UNDER<br>FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2 AND 21<br>U.S.C. § 853(n) FOR<br>ADJUDICATION OF<br>PETITIONER'S RIGHT |\n| HO WAN KWOK,<br>a/k/a \"Miles Guo,\" a/k/a \"Miles Kwok,\"<br>a/k/a \"Guo Wengui,\" a/k/a \"Brother Seven,\"<br>a/k/a \"The Principal,\" | TO SPECIFIC PROPERTY OF                                                                                                 |\n| KIN MING JE, a/k/a \"William Je,\" and<br>YANPING WANG, a/k/a \"Yvette,\"<br>:<br>:                                                | S1 23 CR 118 (AT)                                                                                                       |\n| Defendants.                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                         |\n| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x                                                                    |                                                                                                                         |\n\nNOW COMES, (\"Petitioner\"), by and through the undersigned, and respectfully submits this verified petition under 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) and Rule 32.2(c) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure for adjudication of Petitioner's interest in the following property: (the \"Property\") forfeited pursuant to the Court's **Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment** (Dkt. 488), signed by Your Honor on January 6, 2025, and entered on January 7, 2025 (the \"Forfeiture Order\").\n\n## **I. PARTIES AND JURISDICTION**\n\n1. Petitioner is a . Petitioner's full identifying and contact information, including address, passport number, ID number, phone number, and email address, has been provided to the Court under seal for privacy and security.\n\n- 2. On January 7, 2025, Defendant Yanping Wang was sentenced by Your Honor to 120 months imprisonment. See Dkt. 489.\n- 3. That same day, Your Honor signed the Forfeiture Order. See Dkt. 488.\n- 4. Petitioner was not consulted prior to the entry of the Forfeiture Order and had no knowledge that Defendant Wang consented to forfeit the Property.\n- 5. Petitioner had no involvement in any criminal conduct by the Defendants and had no knowledge of the illicit activities involved.\n- 6. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter under 21 U.S.C. § 853(n), 18 U.S.C. § 3231, and Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.\n\n## **II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY**\n\n- 7. Petitioner was introduced to the H-Coin investment project by a friend engaged in cryptocurrency trading. Between October 2021 and March 2022, Petitioner was influenced by extensive and organized promotional campaigns that exaggerated potential returns, including deceptive videos posted by Guo Wengui.\n- 8. As a result, Petitioner made to Himalaya Exchange (Account No. 7801000254, under the name **Himalaya International Clearing, Ltd.**).\n- 9. On or about September 20, 2022, the DOJ seized this account under **asset ID 23-FBI-000051**.\n- 10. Petitioner reasonably believed the Exchange was a legitimate platform. However, starting December 2022, Himalaya Exchange issued policy updates, capped withdrawals at \\$5,000, and failed to honor Petitioner's , 2023.\n- 11. Despite numerous support tickets no resolution was provided.\n- 12. On July 6, 2023, Petitioner received an investor update from Himalaya Exchange confirming that funds were seized by the DOJ, and that all withdrawals were suspended indefinitely due to ongoing investigations.\n- 13. On September 25, 2023, further communications from the Exchange confirmed continuing government investigations and advised customers to seek independent legal counsel for recovery.\n- 14. Petitioner was not a participant in or aware of any of the underlying criminal conduct by any of the Defendants.\n- 15. Petitioner was a victim of the fraudulent scheme orchestrated through Himalaya Exchange and is an innocent third party with a legally cognizable ownership interest in the seized Property.\n- 16. Petitioner had no knowledge that the funds transferred would be used in furtherance of any illicit scheme.\n- 17. Petitioner's interest is superior to any interest held by the Defendants in the forfeited Property.\n- 18. In the alternative, Petitioner qualifies as a **bona fide purchaser for value** pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(B), having transferred funds in exchange for what was represented as legitimate investment.\n- 19. Petitioner respectfully submits that the Property seized includes assets to which the Defendants had no rightful claim, as the funds originated from Petitioner and other similarly situated victims.\n- 20. Petitioner attached hereto documentation in support of this claim, including: 19 remittance records, email communications with Himalaya Exchange, redemption requests, and investor updates.\n- 21. Petitioner had no ability to intervene before the entry of the Forfeiture Order.\n- 22. Petitioner submits this verified petition to assert a legal interest and to request that the Court amend the Forfeiture Order to exclude the seized Property.\n- 23. Petitioner is entitled to assert a claim under 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(2), which provides that any third party \"asserting a legal interest in property which has been ordered forfeited to the United States... may petition the court for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of his alleged interest in the property.\"\n- 24. This Petition is submitted in good faith and in accordance with the law.\n- 25. Petitioner has filed this petition within 30 days of the final publication of notice.\n\n## **WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests and petitions this Court:**\n\na. to amend the Forfeiture Order to exclude the Property in which Petitioner has a right, title, and interest as an innocent third party, superior interest holder, and/or a bona fide purchaser for value;\n\nb. for a hearing pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) on any disputed matters;\n\nc. in the alternative, and in the event that this Petition is denied, Petitioner respectfully asserts a claim for compensation for his interest in the Property;\n\nd. in the alternative, and in the event that this Petition is denied, Petitioner respectfully moves this Court to be granted restitution and/or payment of the Property through the remission process;\n\ne. for such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.\n\nDated: April 6, 2025,\n\nRespectfully Submitted,\n\n![](_page_3_Picture_4.jpeg)\n\nI attest and declare under penalty of perjury that my petition is not frivolous and the information provided in support of my petition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.\n\nExecuted on April 6th, 2025 in\n\n![](_page_4_Picture_4.jpeg)","body_zh":"United States District Court（美国地方法院）\nSouthern District of New York（纽约南区）\n- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x\n:\nUnited States of America（美利坚合众国）\n:\n-v.-\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵），\n又名“Miles Guo”，又名“Miles Kwok”，\n又名“Guo Wengui”，又名“七哥”，\n又名“Principal”，\nKin Ming Je（余建明），又名“William Je”，以及\nYanping Wang（王雁平），又名“Yvette”，\n:\n:\n被告。\n- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x\n根据《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2 条及 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 提起的经核实请愿书，请求对请愿人就特定财产的权利进行裁决\nS1 23 CR 118 (AT)\n\n现（“请愿人”）由以下署名人代表并经由其，谨根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 及《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2(c) 条提交本经核实请愿书，请求对请愿人在以下财产中的权益进行裁决：（下称“该财产”），该财产已根据法官阁下于 2025 年 1 月 6 日签署并于 2025 年 1 月 7 日录入的本院《关于特定财产/金钱判决的同意初步没收令》（Dkt. 488）（下称“《没收令》”）予以没收。\n\nI. 当事人与管辖权\n\n1. 请愿人系一名。请愿人的完整身份及联系信息，包括地址、护照号码、身份证件号码、电话号码及电子邮件地址，出于隐私和安全考虑已在封存状态下提交给法院。\n\n2. 2025 年 1 月 7 日，被告王雁平被法官阁下判处 120 个月监禁。参见 Dkt. 489。\n\n3. 同一天，法官阁下签署了《没收令》。参见 Dkt. 488。\n\n4. 在《没收令》录入前未曾征询请愿人的意见，请愿人亦不知晓被告王雁平同意没收该财产。\n\n5. 请愿人未参与被告的任何犯罪行为，亦不知晓所涉及的非法活动。\n\n6. 本院根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)、18 U.S.C. § 3231 以及《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2 条对本案具有管辖权。\n\nII. 事实背景及对财产的权益\n\n7. 请愿人经一位从事加密货币交易的朋友介绍知悉了喜币（H-Coin）投资项目。在 2021 年 10 月至 2022 年 3 月期间，请愿人受到夸大潜在回报的大规模且有组织的宣传活动的诱导，其中包括郭文贵发布的欺诈性视频。\n\n8. 因此，请愿人向 Himalaya Exchange（喜马拉雅交易所）（账号：7801000254，账户名为 Himalaya International Clearing, Ltd.（喜马拉雅国际清算有限公司））进行了。\n\n9. 2022 年 9 月 20 日左右，DOJ（美国司法部）扣押了该账户，资产编号为 23-FBI-000051。\n\n10. 请愿人合理地认为该交易所系合法平台。然而，自 2022 年 12 月起，喜马拉雅交易所发布政策更新，将提现上限限制为 5,000 美元，并且未能兑现请愿人于 2023 年的的请求。\n\n11. 尽管提交了多次客服工单，但未获任何解决。\n\n12. 2023 年 7 月 6 日，请愿人收到来自喜马拉雅交易所的投资者通报，确认资金已被司法部扣押，并且由于正在进行的调查，所有提现均无限期暂停。\n\n13. 2023 年 9 月 25 日，来自该交易所的进一步通讯确认政府调查仍在继续，并建议客户寻求独立法律顾问以追回款项。\n\n14. 请愿人并非任何被告任何基础犯罪行为的参与者，亦对此不知情。\n\n15. 请愿人系通过喜马拉雅交易所策划的欺诈计划的受害者，并且是无辜第三方，对被扣押的该财产享有法律上可获承认的所有权权益。\n\n16. 请愿人不知晓所转账的资金会被用于推进任何非法计划。\n\n17. 请愿人在被没收财产中享有的权益优于被告所持有的任何权益。\n\n18. 作为备选主张，根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(B)，请愿人符合善意有偿取得人资格，其转移资金以换取所陈述的合法投资。\n\n19. 请愿人谨主张，被扣押的财产包括被告无合法权利主张的资产，因为资金来源于请愿人及其他处境相同的受害者。\n\n20. 请愿人随本请愿书附上支持该主张的文件，包括：19 笔汇款记录、与喜马拉雅交易所的电子邮件往来、赎回请求以及投资者通报。\n\n21. 在《没收令》录入之前，请愿人无从介入。\n\n22. 请愿人提交本经核实请愿书以主张合法权益，并请求法院修改《没收令》以排除被扣押的该财产。\n\n23. 请愿人有权根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(2) 提出主张，该条款规定任何第三方“对被命令没收给合众国的财产主张合法权益的……可向法院提出请愿，请求举行听证会以裁定其对该财产所主张权益的有效性。”\n\n24. 本请愿书系出于善意并依据法律提交。\n\n25. 请愿人已在公告最终发布之日起 30 日内提交了本请愿书。\n\n为此，请愿人谨请求并向本院请愿：\n\na. 修改《没收令》，以排除请愿人作为无辜第三方、优先权益持有人和/或善意有偿取得人享有权利、所有权和权益的该财产；\n\nb. 根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 就任何争议事项举行听证会；\n\nc. 作为备选请求，若本请愿书被驳回，请愿人谨就其在财产中的权益主张赔偿请求；\n\nd. 作为备选请求，若本请愿书被驳回，请愿人谨提请本院准予赔偿和/或通过减免程序支付该财产；\n\ne. 给予法院认为公正且适当的其他及进一步救济。\n\n日期：2025 年 4 月 6 日\n\n谨此呈递，\n\n（签名）\n\n我在此证实并在承担伪证罪处罚的原则下声明：我的请愿书并非无理纠缠，且据我所知所信，为支持我的请愿书所提供的信息均属真实准确。\n\n于 2025 年 4 月 6 日签署于\n\n（签名）","key_entities":["forfeiture","Himalaya","853(n)","Himalaya Exchange","Guo","Je","Kwok","Yanping Wang","CIPA","Rule 32.2","Miles Guo","Ho Wan Kwok","Kin Ming Je","William Je"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":488,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":489,"court":"SDNY"}],"word_count":1033,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 07:25:26"}