{"id":"court_sdny_678_0","court":"SDNY","case_no":"23-cr-00118","doc_number":678,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"| UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT                                          |                                 |","summary_zh":"第三方财产权利异议申请 —— 美国诉 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo）案，SDNY 1:23-cr-00118 ECF #678。申请人 Ziheng Cheng 依据 Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2 与 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)，就法院此前签发的没收令中涉及的银行账户提出异议，主张其通过 Rule of Law Foundation/Society、G|CLUBS 与 Himalaya Exchange 投入的资金系遭欺诈所致，请求将该笔财产从没收范围中排除并申请听证。","summary_en":"Third-party petition against forfeiture — United States v. Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), SDNY 1:23-cr-00118, ECF #678. Petitioner Ziheng Cheng, invoking Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2 and 21 U.S.C. § 853(n), challenges the court's prior forfeiture order as to certain bank accounts, asserting that funds he invested through the Rule of Law Foundation/Society, G|CLUBS, and Himalaya Exchange were obtained from him by fraud, and seeks exclusion of the property along with a hearing.","body_en":"| UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT                                          |                                 |\n|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|\n| SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK                                         |                                 |\n| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x | PETITION UNDER FED. R. CRIM. P. |\n| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA                                              | : 32.2                          |\n|                                                                       | AND 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) FOR      |\n|                                                                       | : ADJUDICATION OF PETITIONER'S  |\n|                                                                       | RIGHT TO SPECIFIC PROPERTY OF   |\n|                                                                       | [\\$686,841.00]                  |\n\n-v.-\n\nHO WAN KWOK, a/k/a \"Miles Guo,\" a/k/a \"Miles Kwok,\" a/k/a \"Guo Wengui,\" a/k/a \"Brother Seven,\" a/k/a \"The Principal,\"\n\n:\n\nKIN MING JE, a/k/a \"William Je,\" and\n\nYANPING WANG, a/k/a \"Yvette,\"\n\n : S1 23 CR 118 (AT)\n\n : Defendants. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x\n\nZiheng Cheng (the \"Petitioner\"), herby respectfully petitions the Court for a determination of the Petitioner's interest in specific property subject to the Court's *Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money* Judgment, signed by Your Honor on January 6, 2025 and entered on January 7, 2025, (the \"Forfeiture Order\") which includes various bank accounts (\"Forfeited Accounts\") regarding various instrumentality of the Defendant's racketeering scheme, including but not limited to, Rule of Law Foundation III, Rule of Law Society IV, G-Clubs, Himalaya Exchange, namely the Guo Enterprise (G-enterprise), to exclude all property in which the Petitioner has right, title, and interest, namely, \\$686,841.00 (the \"Property\"). In support of this, Petitioners state as follows:\n\n- 1. Starting In 2019, Petitioner was solicited to \"donate\" to the Rule-of-Law Foundation/Society as a prerequisite for the investment of G-Enterprise:\n\t- a) On February 20, 2019, the \"Petitioner\" transferred \\$50.00, via PayPal with transaction ID 1846-8878-5536-3418, to the Rule of Law Society IV, Inc;\n- b) On June 30, 2020, the \"Petitioner\" transferred \\$110.00, via Paypal with transaction ID 02B26373009126624, to the Rule of Law Society IV, Inc;\n- c) On August 2, 2021, the \"Petitioner\" transferred \\$10000.00, via check with Number 178, to the Rule of Law Foundation III, Inc;\n- d) On August 2, 2021, the \"Petitioner\" transferred \\$10000.00, via check with Number 179, to the Rule of Law Foundation III, Inc;\n- 2. The \"Petitioner\" was promised, by the Defendants and others, outsized financial returns and other benefits. As a result of the Defendants false and fraudulent claims, Petitioner invested in total of \\$686,841.00 via, in G|CLUBS, Himalaya Exchange and other instrumentalities of this fraud.\n- 3. In particular, Petitioner sent U.S. currency and other fiat tantamount to U.S. currency upon information and belief, to the custody and control of Defendants into the Forfeited Accounts as detailed below.\n\t- a) On January 20, 2021, Petitioner invested \\$10,000.00 with G|CLUBS providing the funds via check to Defendants to G|CLUBS for payment for the Initial Membership Payment. (See Exhibition V)\n\t- b) On March 15, 2021, Petitioner invested \\$50,000.00 with G|CLUBS providing the funds to Defendants via wire transfer with G|CLUBS Order ID RQ21031318472. (See Exhibition VI)\n\t- c) On May 11, 2021, Petitioner invested \\$20,020.00 with Himalaya Exchange providing the funds to Defendants via wire transfer with TRN 2021051100340327. (See Exhibition I)\n\t- d) On October 12, 2021, Petitioner invested \\$30,000.00 with Himalaya Exchange providing the funds to Defendants via wire transfer into FV bank account 7801000254 with TRN 2021101200575176. (See Exhibition II)\n\t- e) On October 21, 2021, Petitioner invested \\$50,020.00 with Himalaya Exchange providing the funds to Defendants via wire transfer into FV bank account 7801000254 with TRN 2021102100089153. (See Exhibition II)\n\t- f) On February 16, 2022, Petitioner invested \\$50,020.00 with Himalaya Exchange providing the funds to Defendants via wire transfer into FV bank account 7801000254 with TRN 2022021600373037. (See Exhibition III)\n- 4. The Petitioner was solicited and was promised by the Defendants, and coconspirators Xia Qidong, and Zhang Yongbing (Dkt. 388) with outsizing financial rewards and other benefits,\n\nto invest the Himalaya Exchange by wiring 3,000,000.00 Chinese Yuan (RMB) tantamount to \\$456,621.00, to an account provided by Xia on April 6, 2022. On April 24, 2022, the Petitioner received 456621.00 HDO shown on the \"Himalaya Exchange\" and the \"H-Pay\". (See Exhibition IV)\n\n- 5. The total amount transferred to Defendants in the Forfeited Accounts, whether directly or indirectly, is **\\$**686,841.00.\n- 6. The Petitioner never received any funds or investment back from Defendants.\n- 7. In March 2023, Defendants Kwok and Wang were arrested. Defendant Je remains at large.\n- 8. Petitioner was not aware of the criminal nature of G-enterprises leading up to the arrest of the Defendants. After the arrest, Petitioner learned that the Defendants were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Securities Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1349, as well as related substantive counts.\n- 9. On May 3, 2024, Defendant Wang pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 pursuant to a plea agreement with the Government, wherein Defendant Wang agreed to forfeit to the United States a sum of money equal to \\$1.4 Billion through various accounts and other property, including forfeiting all right, title, and interest of the Property. See Dkt. 325.\n- 10. On May 3, 2024, Defendant Wang consented to the entry of Preliminary Order ofForfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment, including all funds provided by Petitioner into the Forfeited Accounts as detailed above. See Dkt. 329.\n- 11. On July 18, 2024, Defendant Kwok was convicted after a Jury Trial of Racketeering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to commit, Wire or Bank, Money Laundering and Securities Fraud, as well as related substantive counts. See Dkt. 395.\n- 12. On January 7, 2025, Defendant Wang was sentenced by Your Honor to 120 months imprisonment. See Dkt. 489.\n- 13. On January 7, 2025, Your Honor signed the Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment. See Dkt. 488.\n- 14. The Petitioner was not consulted prior to the entry of the Forfeiture Order. Petitioner had no knowledge that Defendant Wang consented to forfeit the Property.\n- 15. Petitioner was not involved in the aforementioned crimes, except as a victim, nor was he knowledgeable of the Defendants' illicit and illegal activities. Accordingly, Petitioner is also an innocent third party pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n). The petition, which is sworn\n\nand signed by the petitioner, \"shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner's right, title, or interest in the property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner's acquisition of the right, title, or interest in the property, and additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim, and the relief sought.\" *Id*. § 853(n)(3).\n\n- 16. Here, Petitioner is the lawful owner of the Property having been defrauded of the Property by the Defendants.\n- 17. In the alternative, Petitioner is a bona fide purchaser for value of his interest in the Property under 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(B), as he provided the Property to Defendants under false and fraudulent pretenses.\n- 18. Petitioner was made aware of the Order of Forfeiture by viewing it at www.forfeiture.gov (which was published from February 6, 2025 through March 7, 2025) noting\n\n19. The petitioner has filed this petition within 60 days of the initial publication of notice. 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, and/or a bona fide purchaser for value. b) 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 hereby 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 hereby 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\n## Dated: April 6, 2025 Respectfully Submitted,\n\n![](_page_4_Picture_3.jpeg)\n\nZiheng Cheng\n\n![](_page_4_Picture_5.jpeg)\n\n## VERIFICATION\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. Executed on April 6th, 2025, in Tübingen, The Federal Republic of Germany.\n\n![](_page_5_Picture_3.jpeg)","body_zh":"UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT（美国联邦地区法院）\nSOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK（纽约南区）\n- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x\n根据《联邦刑事诉讼规则》（FED. R. CRIM. P.）第 32.2 条\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA（美利坚合众国）\n以及 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 提起的请求书，\n旨在裁定申请人对\n特定财产 [$686,841.00] 的权利\n-v.-\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），又名“Miles Guo”，又名“Miles Kwok”，又名“Guo Wengui”，又名“Brother Seven”（七哥），又名“The Principal”，\nKIN MING JE（余建明），又名“William Je”，以及\nYANPING WANG（王雁平），又名“Yvette”，\n案号：S1 23 CR 118 (AT)\n被告人。\n- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x\n\nZiheng Cheng（程子恒）（下称“申请人”），特此恭敬地向法院请求，就申请人在法院于 2025年1月6日 由法官阁下签署并于 2025年1月7日 录入的《关于特定财产/金钱判决的同意初步没收令》（下称“没收令”）所涉特定财产中的权益作出裁定；该没收令包括涉及被告敲诈勒索阴谋的各种工具的若干银行账户（下称“被没收账户”），包括但不限于 Rule of Law Foundation III（法治基金 III）、Rule of Law Society IV（法治社会 IV）、G-Clubs、Himalaya Exchange（喜马拉雅交易所），即郭氏企业（G-enterprise），以排除申请人享有权利、所有权和权益的全部财产，即 $686,841.00（下称“涉案财产”）。为此，申请人陈述如下：\n\n- 1. 自 2019年 开始，申请人被劝诱向法治基金/社会“捐款”，以此作为投资郭氏企业的前提条件：\n\t- a) 2019年2月20日，申请人通过 PayPal（交易号 1846-8878-5536-3418）向 Rule of Law Society IV, Inc 转账 $50.00；\n- b) 2020年6月30日，申请人通过 Paypal（交易号 02B26373009126624）向 Rule of Law Society IV, Inc 转账 $110.00；\n- c) 2021年8月2日，申请人通过支票（支票号 178）向 Rule of Law Foundation III, Inc 转账 $10000.00；\n- d) 2021年8月2日，申请人通过支票（支票号 179）向 Rule of Law Foundation III, Inc 转账 $10000.00；\n- 2. 被告人及他人向申请人承诺了极高的财务回报和其他利益。由于被告人的虚假和欺诈性陈述，申请人通过 G|CLUBS、喜马拉雅交易所及该欺诈行为的其他工具共计投资了 $686,841.00。\n- 3. 特别是，据信，申请人向被告人控制和管辖的被没收账户汇入了美元以及相当于美元的其他法定货币，详情如下：\n\t- a) 2021年1月20日，申请人向 G|CLUBS 投资 $10,000.00，通过支票向被告人提供资金，用于支付 G|CLUBS 的初始会员费。（见证据 V）\n\t- b) 2021年3月15日，申请人向 G|CLUBS 投资 $50,000.00，通过电汇向被告人提供资金，G|CLUBS 订单号为 RQ21031318472。（见证据 VI）\n\t- c) 2021年5月11日，申请人向喜马拉雅交易所投资 $20,020.00，通过电汇向被告人提供资金，流水号为 TRN 2021051100340327。（见证据 I）\n\t- d) 2021年10月12日，申请人向喜马拉雅交易所投资 $30,000.00，通过电汇向被告人的 FV 银行账户 7801000254 提供资金，流水号为 TRN 2021101200575176。（见证据 II）\n\t- e) 2021年10月21日，申请人向喜马拉雅交易所投资 $50,020.00，通过电汇向被告人的 FV 银行账户 7801000254 提供资金，流水号为 TRN 2021102100089153。（见证据 II）\n\t- f) 2022年2月16日，申请人向喜马拉雅交易所投资 $50,020.00，通过电汇向被告人的 FV 银行账户 7801000254 提供资金，流水号为 TRN 2022021600373037。（见证据 III）\n- 4. 被告人以及同谋 Xia Qidong（夏启东）和 Zhang Yongbing（张咏兵）（ECF 编号 Dkt. 388）以极高的财务回报和其他利益为许诺，劝诱申请人于 2022年4月6日 向夏启东提供的账户电汇 3,000,000.00 人民币（相当于 $456,621.00）以投资喜马拉雅交易所。2022年4月24日，申请人在“喜马拉雅交易所”和“H-Pay”上显示收到了 456621.00 HDO。（见证据 IV）\n\n- 5. 直接或间接转账至被告人被没收账户的总金额为 $686,841.00。\n- 6. 申请人从未从被告人处收回任何资金或投资款项。\n- 7. 2023年3月，被告人郭文贵和王雁平被捕。被告人余建明仍然在逃。\n- 8. 在被告人被捕之前，申请人并不知晓郭氏企业的犯罪性质。被捕后，申请人获悉被告人被指控犯有共谋电汇欺诈、证券欺诈、银行欺诈和洗钱罪（违反 18 U.S.C. § 1349）以及相关实质性罪名项。\n- 9. 2024年5月3日，被告人王雁平根据与政府达成的认罪协议，对共谋电汇欺诈罪（违反 18 U.S.C. § 1349）作出了认罪答辩，其中被告人王雁平同意通过若干账户和其他财产向美国没收相当于 14亿美元 的款项，包括没收涉案财产的全部权利、所有权和权益。见 Dkt. 325。\n- 10. 2024年5月3日，被告人王雁平同意录入《关于特定财产/金钱判决的初步没收令》，包括申请人如上所述汇入被没收账户的全部资金。见 Dkt. 329。\n- 11. 2024年7月18日，被告人郭文贵经陪审团审判，被判犯有共谋敲诈勒索、共谋实施电汇或银行欺诈、洗钱和证券欺诈罪，以及相关实质性罪名项。见 Dkt. 395。\n- 12. 2025年1月7日，法官阁下判处被告人王雁平 120 个月监禁。见 Dkt. 489。\n- 13. 2025年1月7日，法官阁下签署了《关于特定财产/金钱判决的没收令》。见 Dkt. 488。\n- 14. 在录入该没收令之前，未征求申请人的意见。申请人不知晓被告人王雁平同意没收涉案财产。\n- 15. 除作为受害者外，申请人未参与上述犯罪，亦不知晓被告人的违法和非法活动。因此，根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)，申请人亦为无辜第三方。经申请人宣誓并签署的请求书，“应当载明申请人对该财产所享有的权利、所有权或权益的性质和范围，申请人取得该财产权利、所有权或权益的时间和情况，以及支持申请人主张的补充事实和所寻求的救济。”同上，§ 853(n)(3)。\n\n- 16. 在本案中，由于涉案财产是被告人诈骗所得，申请人为涉案财产的合法所有权人。\n- 17. 作为备选方案，申请人根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(B) 属于对其在涉案财产中的权益支付了对价的善意购买人，因为其是在虚假和欺诈性托辞下向被告人提供了涉案财产。\n- 18. 申请人是通过在 www.forfeiture.gov（于 2025年2月6日 至 2025年3月7日 期间公布）上查阅注意到了该没收令。\n\n19. 申请人在首次公布公告后的 60 天内提交了本请求书。为此，申请人谨此请求并提请本法院：\n\na) 修改没收令，以排除申请人作为无辜第三方、享有优先权益者及/或支付对价的善意购买人而享有权利、所有权和权益的涉案财产。\nb) 根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 就任何争议事项举行听证会。\n\nc) 作为备选方案，如果本请求书被驳回，申请人特此恭敬地就其在涉案财产中的权益提出赔偿主张。\n\nd) 作为备选方案，如果本请求书被驳回，申请人特此恭敬地请求本法院准予通过减免程序获得涉案财产的赔偿及/或款项。\n\ne) 准予法院认为公正和适当的其他及进一步的救济。\n\n日期：2025年4月6日 谨此提交，\n\nZiheng Cheng（程子恒）\n\n真实性声明\n\n本人证明并声明，在接受伪证罪处罚的前提下，本人的请求书绝非无理取闹，为支持本请求书所提供的信息据本人所知和所信均为真实准确。于 2025年4月6日 签署于 The Federal Republic of Germany（德意志联邦共和国）Tübingen（蒂宾根）。","key_entities":["Himalaya","Himalaya Exchange","forfeiture","853(n)","Kwok","Je","Guo","Miles Guo","Ho Wan Kwok","Yanping Wang","Kin Ming Je","William Je","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":325,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":329,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":388,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":395,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":488,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":489,"court":"SDNY"}],"word_count":1422,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 07:26:50"}