Chinese court sentences pig butchering scam leaders to death in $4 billion fraud case

In a landmark ruling, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in Guangdong Province has sentenced five leaders of the Pig-Butchering Crime Syndicate to death, marking one of China’s harshest crackdowns on organized online fraud.

The defendants — Bai Suocheng, Bai Yingcang, Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang, and Chen Guangyi — were found guilty of orchestrating a sprawling network of scams, drug trafficking, and violent crimes that spanned both China and Myanmar.

The Pig-Butchering Crime Syndicate was accused of using fake romantic relationships and investment opportunities to lure victims, in what has become a common digital scam known as “pig-butchering.”

According to court findings, the group leveraged its influence in Myanmar’s Kokang region to operate 41 illicit sites involved in telecom fraud, illegal casinos, kidnappings, extortion, and forced prostitution.

The court determined that these operations generated more than 29 billion yuan ($4 billion) in criminal proceeds and resulted in the deaths of six Chinese nationals.

“The court found that the crimes committed by the defendants were exceptionally serious, with profound social harm,” — Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court statement.

Death sentences and life terms for top syndicate leaders

During the public sentencing on November 4, 2025, the Shenzhen court ruled that Bai Suocheng and Bai Yingcang — considered the principal leaders of the Pig-Butchering Crime Syndicate — were responsible for directing criminal activities across international borders.

The two were sentenced to death, alongside three accomplices, while other members received life imprisonment or fixed-term sentences. Several defendants also received death sentences with two-year reprieves, a conditional penalty in Chinese law that may be commuted to life imprisonment.

Additionally, the court imposed fines, asset forfeitures, and deportations where applicable, aiming to dismantle the syndicate’s financial and logistical structures.

“Those who profit from human suffering, through deception and violence, will face the full weight of Chinese law,” — Shenzhen court spokesperson, during the sentencing hearing.

Among other charges, Bai Yingcang was convicted of trafficking and manufacturing 11 tonnes of methamphetamine, further aggravating his punishment. The defendants faced a total of 12 criminal counts, including fraud, intentional homicide, intentional injury, and drug-related offenses.

Myanmar connection exposes cross-border criminal network

Investigators revealed that the Pig-Butchering Crime Syndicate operated from Kokang, an autonomous region of Myanmar bordering China. The area has long been associated with organized crime and telecom fraud hubs targeting Chinese citizens.

The syndicate’s leaders allegedly built extensive underground operations protected by local militias, allowing them to evade Chinese authorities for years.

Their scheme relied on recruiting workers, often by coercion or false promises, to operate fake online profiles designed to “fatten up” victims emotionally before defrauding them — hence the term “pig-butchering.”

According to the court’s report, the network’s scale and violence distinguished it from ordinary online scams. The group’s activities included kidnapping, extortion, and forced labor, with several individuals killed for resisting orders or attempting escape.

“The Pig-Butchering Crime Syndicate not only exploited victims online but also inflicted real-world harm through violence and intimidation,” — court summary of findings.

National implications and public response

The sentencing marks a significant milestone in China’s broader campaign against telecom and online fraud, crimes that have affected millions of citizens and strained diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian nations.

Representatives from the National People’s Congress, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, victims’ families, and members of the public attended the hearing — a rare display of transparency intended to signal the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens.

The Pig-Butchering Crime Syndicate verdict also underscores Beijing’s growing resolve to combat cross-border financial crimes that exploit new technologies and weak jurisdictions.

Authorities confirmed that the defendants’ appeals and enforcement proceedings will follow China’s legal process. The case is expected to serve as a deterrent to similar criminal organizations operating in regions like northern Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.

The Pig-Butchering Crime Syndicate case, which combined elements of romance fraud, drug trafficking, and organized violence, represents a grim reminder of the real-world consequences of digital deception and the global reach of online criminal networks.