{"id":"court_sdny_777_0","court":"SDNY","case_no":"23-cr-00118","doc_number":777,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2025-12-17","title":"UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,","summary_zh":"第三方权益请求书 —— 美国诉 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo）等人案，SDNY 1:23-cr-00118 ECF #777（2025年12月17日立案）。居住越南的曾伟成（Zeng Weicheng）依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 及 Rule 32.2，就其汇往 Himalaya International Clearing 用于购买 HDO/HCN、并被列入法院初步没收令的 487,530.70 美元资金主张优先权益，请求举行听证并将该笔款项排除在没收范围之外。","summary_en":"Third-party interest petition — United States v. Ho Wan Kwok, et al. (Miles Guo), SDNY 1:23-cr-00118, ECF #777 (filed Dec. 17, 2025). Vietnam-based petitioner Zeng Weicheng, under 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) and Rule 32.2, asserts a superior interest in $487,530.70 he wired to Himalaya International Clearing for HDO/HCN purchases that was included in the Preliminary Order of Forfeiture, seeking a hearing and exclusion of those funds from forfeiture.","body_en":"# UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK\n\n### UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,\n\n*Plaintiff*,\n\nv.\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\nKIN MING JE, a/k/a \"William Je,\" and\n\nYANPING WANG, a/k/a \"Yvette,\".\n\n*Defendants*.\n\nCase No. 1:23-cr-00118-AT\n\n**VERIFIED PETITION OF ZENG WEICHENG FOR A HEARING TO ADJUDICATE THE VALIDITY OF PETITIONER'S INTEREST IN CERTAIN PROPERTY LISTED IN PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE**\n\n**[FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2; 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)]**\n\nComes now non-defendant Petitioner ZENG WEI CHENG (\"Petitioner\"), by and through his counsel, Louis A. Pellegrino, to petition this Court pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2 (\"Rule 32.2\") and Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n) (\"§ 853(n)\") for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of Petitioner's interest in certain property, described more specifically below, and an Order amending this Court's Preliminary Order of Forfeiture entered August 11, 2025, against defendant Ho Wan Kwok, *aka* Miles Guo (\"Guo\") (the \"Guo POF\"), to award the referenced property to Petitioner and not forfeit it to the United States.\n\nAs explained below, Petitioner is the rightful owner of the property within the meaning of § 853(n) because Petitioner was defrauded of funds by Defendant and persons and entities acting\n\nat Defendant's direction or under his control (collectively, the \"Defendant\"). Petitioner has a right, title, or interest in the property, and such right, title, or interest renders the order of forfeiture invalid in part because the right, title, or interest was vested in Petitioner rather than the Defendant or was superior to any right, title, or interest of the Defendant at the time of the commission of the acts which gave rise to the forfeiture of the property.\n\nPetitioner states as follows:\n\n1. Petitioner is a citizen of China and, at all relevant times, was and is a resident of Vietnam.\n\n2. By this Petition, Petitioner seeks to recover a total of USD \\$487,530.70 (the \"Subject Funds\") which were wire transferred by Petitioner between on or about November 8, 2021, and September 28, 2022, to one or more bank accounts held in the name or for the benefit of Himalaya International Clearing Ltd., which was a material component of the fraud scheme of which Defendant was convicted in the instant action.\n\n3. Petitioner is informed and believes that the Subject Funds are among the funds identified in the Guo POF as CATS No. 23-FBI-000289 (\\$10,008,284.04 in United States currency formerly on deposit in account number MBI10133-0000 at Mercantile Bank International held in the name of \"Himalaya International Clearing Ltd.,\" seized by the Government between on or about October 10, 2022, and on or about March 10, 2023) and/or CATS No. 23-FBI-000051 (\\$14,599,257.25 in United States currency formerly on deposit in account number 7801000254 at FV Bank held in the name of \"Himalaya International Clearing, Ltd.,\" seized by the Government on or about September 20, 2022), or that the Subject Funds are traceable to one or more other assets listed in the Guo POF.\n\n4. This Petition is filed in response to the government's online publication of notice, and is timely.\n\n5. Petitioner is an individual investor-victim and the owner of the Subject Funds.\n\n6. Petitioner was induced to invest the Subject Funds in the Defendant's Himalaya Exchange fraud scheme through publicly-available solicitations and advertisements on the Internet and elsewhere that falsely represented the legitimacy of two digital currency tokens: the \"Himalaya Dollar\" (HDO) and the \"Himalaya Coin\" (HCN). HIC and Himalaya Exchange further falsely represented that the HDO and HCN were backed by the US Dollar and cashequivalent assets, and that the Himalaya Exchange allowed users to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies. In fact, the entire system relied on an internal database and HDO and HCN could be traded only on the closed-system Himalaya Exchange. The false representations described above were material, and Petitioner detrimentally relied upon said representations in making the investments described herein, causing him to suffer the loss of the Subject Funds. Had Petitioner known that the representations were false, he would not have transferred the Subject Funds.\n\n7. In detrimental reliance on the false representations stated above, and others, including numerous false representations about the legitimacy of the investment that continued throughout the relevant period, including after the seizure of the Subject Funds by the United States Government, Petitioner wired the Subject Funds to Himalaya International Clearing, Ltd. (HIC), which controlled the Himalaya Exchange, according to wire instructions provided to Petitioner through Internet postings and advertisements soliciting investments in Himalaya Exchange. Petitioner's wire transfers were acknowledged by HIC on HIC's website. Petitioner\n\nis informed and believes that HIC was one of several companies that was used by Defendant for clearing and holding reserves for Himalaya Exchange.\n\n8. Specifically, Petitioner sought to invest in the HDO stablecoin by sending approximately 8 wire transfers to HIC, totaling \\$425,530.70, inclusive of fees, from Petitioner's accounts at two Vietnamese banks (Vietcombank and VietinBank) to Metropolitan Commercial Bank in New York for the benefit of HIC, located in the British Virgin Islands. Petitioner also wire transferred \\$62,000.00 to an account, held at Royal Business Bank, in the name of Prime Trust LLC in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of the scheme and in detrimental reliance on the false representations stated above. As noted above, the total amount of the Subject Funds wired by Plaintiff for the benefit of HIC was \\$487,530.70.\n\n9. The facts set out above demonstrate that Petitioner is both the owner of the Subject Funds and a victim of the underlying offenses of conviction within the meaning of § 853(n)(6)(A) in that at the time of Petitioner's investment of the Subject Funds, Petitioner had a right, title, or interest in the Subject Funds which renders the order of forfeiture invalid as to the amount of the Subject Funds because Petitioner's right, title, or interest was vested in Petitioner rather than the Defendant or was superior to any right, title, or interest of the Defendant at the time of the commission of the acts which gave rise to the forfeiture.\n\n10. Petitioner continues to hold title to the Subject Funds pursuant to United States law. Moreover, Petitioner is a victim of the underlying offenses because he holds a present, legally cognizable, valid and good faith interest in the Subject Funds and incurred a pecuniary loss as a direct result of the commission of the offenses underlying the forfeiture order.\n\nWHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests and petitions this Court:\n\n- a. to amend the August 11, 2025, Guo POF to exclude the Subject Funds, to which Petitioner has a superior interest as an innocent owner;\n- b. for a hearing pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) on any disputed matters; and\n- c. for such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.\n\nDate: December 12, 2025\n\nRespectfully submitted,\n\nDENTONS US LLP\n\n s/Louis A. Pellegrino SDNY Bar # 3060944 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020-1089 Email: louis.pellegrino@dentons.com Phone: (212) 768-6700 Fax: (212) 768-6800\n\n## VERIFICATION\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nI, Zeng Weicheng, am the Petitioner herein, and make this declaration in support of the above Petition. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that I have read the Petition and believe the facts stated therein to be true, either because I have personal knowledge of said facts, or am informed and believe that they are accurate.\n\nExecuted this 12<sup>th</sup> day of December, 2025, at Ha Noi City, Vietnam.\n\n*s/ Zeng Weicheng*\n\nZeng Weicheng","body_zh":"UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK（美国纽约南区联邦地区法院）\n\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA（美利坚合众国），\n原告，\nv.\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），又名“Miles Guo”、“Miles Kwok”、“Guo Wengui”、“Brother Seven（七哥）”、“The Principal（校长）”，\nKIN MING JE（余建明），又名“William Je”，以及\nYANPING WANG（王雁平），又名“Yvette”，\n被告。\n\n案号：1:23-cr-00118-AT\n\nZENG WEICHENG（曾伟成）请求就裁定请愿人对初步没收令所列特定财产之权益有效性举行听证会的经核实请愿书\n\n[FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2；21 U.S.C. § 853(n)]\n\n非被告请愿人曾伟成（“请愿人”）现由其代理律师 Louis A. Pellegrino 代表，依据《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2 条（“Rule 32.2”）及《美国法典》第 21 编第 853 条(n)款（“§ 853(n)”）向本院提出请愿，请求举行听证会以裁定请愿人对下文更具体描述的特定财产所享权益的有效性，并请求作出裁定，修改本院于 2025年8月11日 针对被告郭文贵（又名 Miles Guo，“郭”）作出的初步没收令（“郭氏初步没收令”），将所涉财产判归请愿人，而不予没收给美国政府。\n\n如下文所述，请愿人属于 § 853(n) 含义范围内该财产的合法所有人，因为请愿人的资金系被被告以及受被告指示或在其控制下行事的人员和实体（统称“被告”）诈骗所得。请愿人对该财产享有权利、所有权或权益，且该等权利、所有权或权益致使该没收令部分无效，因为在导致该财产被没收的非法行为实施之时，该权利、所有权或权益已归属于请愿人而非被告，或优先于被告的任何权利、所有权或权益。\n\n请愿人陈述如下：\n\n1. 请愿人为中国公民，且在所有相关时间内过去是、现在也是越南居民。\n\n2. 通过本请愿书，请愿人寻求追回总计 USD $487,530.70（“涉案资金”），该等资金系由请愿人在大约 2021年11月8日 至 2022年9月28日 期间电汇至以 Himalaya International Clearing Ltd.（喜马拉雅国际清算有限公司）名义开设或为其利益持有的一个或多个银行账户，而该公司正是被告在本案中被定罪的欺诈计划的重要组成部分。\n\n3. 请愿人获悉并确信，涉案资金属于郭氏初步没收令中确定为 CATS No. 23-FBI-000289 的资金（原存于 Mercantile Bank International 账户号为 MBI10133-0000、以“Himalaya International Clearing Ltd.”名义持有的 $10,008,284.04 美元货币，由政府在大约 2022年10月10日 至大约 2023年3月10日 期间查封）和/或 CATS No. 23-FBI-000051 的资金（原存于 FV Bank 账户号为 7801000254、以“Himalaya International Clearing, Ltd.”名义持有的 $14,599,257.25 美元货币，由政府于大约 2022年9月20日 查封），或者涉案资金可追溯至郭氏初步没收令中所列的一项或多项其他资产。\n\n4. 本请愿书系针对政府的在线公告通知而提交，且未逾期。\n\n5. 请愿人为个人受害者投资者及涉案资金的所有人。\n\n6. 请愿人受到在互联网及其他渠道公开传播的招揽和广告的诱导，将其涉案资金投资于被告的 Himalaya Exchange（喜马拉雅交易所）欺诈计划中，这些招揽和广告虚假陈述了两种数字货币代币的合法性：“Himalaya Dollar（喜马拉雅美元）”（HDO）和“Himalaya Coin（喜马拉雅币）”（HCN）。HIC 与喜马拉雅交易所还进一步虚假陈述 HDO 和 HCN 有美元及现金等价物资产支持，且喜马拉雅交易所允许用户买卖和交易加密货币。事实上，整个系统依赖于一个内部数据库，且 HDO 和 HCN 仅能在封闭系统的喜马拉雅交易所内交易。上述虚假陈述具有重大性，请愿人因信赖上述陈述而遭受损害并进行了本文所述的投资，导致其蒙受涉案资金的损失。若请愿人知晓上述陈述属虚假，绝不会转移涉案资金。\n\n7. 因信赖上述虚假陈述以及其他陈述（包括在整个相关期间持续进行的关于该投资合法性的诸多虚假陈述，包括在美国政府查封涉案资金之后），请愿人根据通过互联网发帖和招揽投资喜马拉雅交易所的广告向请愿人提供的电汇指示，将涉案资金电汇至控制喜马拉雅交易所的 Himalaya International Clearing, Ltd.（HIC）。请愿人的电汇款项在 HIC 的网站上得到了 HIC 的确认。请愿人获悉并确信，HIC 是被告用于喜马拉雅交易所清算和持有储备金的数家公司之一。\n\n8. 具体而言，请愿人意图投资 HDO 稳定币，通过请愿人在两家越南银行（Vietcombank 和 VietinBank）的账户向位于纽约的 Metropolitan Commercial Bank 发送了大约 8 笔电汇，总计 $425,530.70（含手续费），收款受益人为位于英属维尔京群岛的 HIC。作为该计划的一部分，且因信赖上述虚假陈述而遭受损害，请愿人还向设在内华达州拉斯维加斯、在 Royal Business Bank 以 Prime Trust LLC 名义持有的账户电汇了 $62,000.00。如上所述，原告为 HIC 的利益而电汇的涉案资金总额为 $487,530.70。\n\n9. 上述事实表明，请愿人既是涉案资金的所有人，也是 § 853(n)(6)(A) 含义范围内被定罪的基础犯罪的受害者，因为在请愿人投资涉案资金之时，请愿人对涉案资金享有权利、所有权或权益，该等权利、所有权或权益致使没收令在涉案资金的数额范围内无效，因为在导致没收的行为发生时，该权利、所有权或权益已归属于请愿人而非被告，或优先于被告的任何权利、所有权或权益。\n\n10. 依据美国法律，请愿人继续持有涉案资金的所有权。此外，请愿人是基础犯罪的受害者，因为其对涉案资金享有现时的、法律上可承认的、有效且善意的权益，并且作为导致没收令的基础犯罪行为的直接后果遭受了金钱损失。\n\n为此，请愿人谨向本院提出请求并请愿：\n\n- a. 修改 2025年8月11日 的郭氏初步没收令，以排除涉案资金，请愿人作为无辜所有人对该等资金享有优先权益；\n- b. 依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 就任何争议事项举行听证会；以及\n- c. 给予法院认为公正和适当的其他及进一步救济。\n\n日期：2025年12月12日\n\n谨此提交，\n\nDENTONS US LLP（大成美国律师事务所）\n\ns/Louis A. Pellegrino 纽约南区律师执照号 # 3060944 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020-1089 电子邮箱：louis.pellegrino@dentons.com 电话：(212) 768-6700 传真：(212) 768-6800\n\n核实声明\n\n________________________________\n\n本人，曾伟成（Zeng Weicheng），系本案请愿人，特作出本声明以支持上述请愿书。本人根据美国法律声明，在愿受伪证罪处罚的前提下，本人已阅读该请愿书并确信其中所述事实属实，该等确信或是基于本人对上述事实的直接知悉，或是获悉并确信其准确无误。\n\n于 2025年12月12日 签署于越南河内市。\n\ns/ Zeng Weicheng\n\nZeng Weicheng（曾伟成）","key_entities":["Je","Himalaya","Guo","Himalaya Exchange","forfeiture","853(n)","Kwok","Miles Guo","Ho Wan Kwok","Yanping Wang","Kin Ming Je","William Je","CIPA","Rule 32.2"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":1253,"status":"published","published_at":"2025-12-17 00:00:00","created_at":"2025-12-17","updated_at":"2026-08-23 07:25:38"}